If you have or had a mite problem... read this

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 12:43 pm

I found a article on the parasites common to hermit crabs. It mentioned 9 different sorts of mites. So I contacted the author of the article about removal methods. I've not had a mite problem myself so I don't have anything to send him. Here is his email:

Stacy,

Thanks for the note. Unfortunately little is known of these mites and
their impacts on hermit crabs. I have not come across any records of
mites creating holes in the carapace and I am interested in seeing a
sample of this. If someone could send me samples of the mites (preserved
in ~70% ethyl alcohol) then I could at least help out with
identification (If someone has hosts that died or are dying with the
mites then they could also be preserved). I don't have any information
on treatments; the difficulty, as you know, is finding a treatment that
won't hurt the hermit crabs. However, identification of the mites is the
place to start in terms of finding a potential treatment.

Do you believe that these mites came along with their hosts from the
place of collection, or were they somehow infested with the mites after
collection? If anyone has samples they would like to send, please
include as much data as possible in terms of host collection (or
purchase) locality, date, and when mite infestation started etc. The
samples could be sent to the address below.

Take care,
Jason

Jason D. Williams, Ph.D.
Biology Department
Hofstra University
Hempstead, NY 11549

Phone: 516-463-5524
Email: biojdw@hofstra.edu

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 7:34 pm

AND, he said preserved in 70% ethyl alcohol...I only have 70% isopropyl alcohol. Would that not work?!

Oh, btw, I got it off!! [smilie=banana.gif] [smilie=banana.gif] [smilie=banana.gif]

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 7:52 pm

I would think 70% isopropyl would be fine. I say go for it!

He's not interested in "incidental" mites, right? I mean mites that are there for the FB and ignore the crabs for the most part.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 9:07 pm

I was thinking about these mites. They could very well be Hypoaspis mites, a beneficial mite that preys on other such pests, and cleans food/poo debris from the animals they live upon. They are popular with keepers of Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches, as they keep the roaches very clean and less prone to disease. They also keep the animals' habitat clean.

However, upon a search of "mites hermit crabs", I came up with something interesting.

Natural History Museum

It seems there is a type of mite associated with PP Hermit Crabs called Erenetes coenobitus. Further research on this mite may be fruitful.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 9:20 pm

Kelli how about a clear film canister taped securely shut????

I have glass vials but I don't know if I could get you one in time for you to mail it off to him. I'm willing to though.

I don't know about the alcohol...someone else was going to ask him as well.

Glad you were able to get the little bugger off!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 11:24 pm

As much as I love my crabs, I swear they would have to go if they got mites. Yea, I probably don't mean that, but I seriously have bugaphobia!!!Seriously, very badly..... I love my krabbie patties, but I cannot hold them because of the arachnophobia part of me since I found out they had 8 legs (after I had bought them!) I just have serious issues when it comes to kreepy krawly things, period! I do need to give crabs a bath and let Mr. Krabbs out of ISO though. (I don't know if I can give them a bath, should wait on my son. If they came out big time, I'd freak..)I am getting ALOT better though. I can move them when needed or touch shell now...a little..

Well thanks for hearing my ramble..

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 12:42 am

Actually, hermies have 10 legs, like a lobster. They have the 8 you see, then two more small ones on each side. From my experience, most crabs have mites, but you may never see them. I've noticed them living in the deepest parts of the shells. It would be awful to get rid of something you claimed to love just because they have tiny critters you can't see.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 10:06 am

I deleted it!!

Send it to me ...at my msn account.
The vials are at work...shh

They are super tiny but have a sealed membrane in the lid. I'll take a envelope and postage with me to work and send it off to you.

Can you put him in alcohol until the vial gets there?

Is there anyone else who has mites and needs a vial to mail it in?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 12:02 pm

I went and bought the right alcohol today at Rite Aid...it was only a dollar something. So when I get home I'll put him in it. hehehe Doc called me back, but my phone was off since I was at work. Now I'm at lunch, and he must be too! LOL Oh.....I'll try him again before I go back, let him know it will be coming and everything. So, for future reference, 70% ethyl alcohol is at RITE AID and its CHEAP!

Gorthaur · Post by **Gorthaur** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 5:59 pm

Janeson wrote:As much as I love my crabs, I swear they would have to go if they got mites. Yea, I probably don't mean that, but I seriously have bugaphobia!!!Seriously, very badly..... I love my krabbie patties, but I cannot hold them because of the arachnophobia part of me since I found out they had 8 legs (after I had bought them!) I just have serious issues when it comes to kreepy krawly things, period! I do need to give crabs a bath and let Mr. Krabbs out of ISO though. (I don't know if I can give them a bath, should wait on my son. If they came out big time, I'd freak..)I am getting ALOT better though. I can move them when needed or touch shell now...a little..

Well thanks for hearing my ramble..

I know just how you feel. I was terrified of all crustaceans for years until I saw hermit crabs (little ones, so less scary) at a mall kiosk, and I was so fascinated I had to pursue this interest and destroy my fear. At the pet store they were so scared of me that all I did was pick a few interesting shells and check that they were securely occupied. For weeks I wouldn't let them crawl on my hands under any circumstances, but gradually I became less and less afraid of them so that now I am not afraid of any creepy crawlies.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 7:09 pm

Daethian, I got the vials today! Thanks a million. I'll get the mite ready & ship him out tomorrow. I still haven't gotten ahold of Doc Williams yet, think I should just send him an email and let him know what he's receiving this? LOL I'm almost done with that mite FAQ too.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 5:23 pm

Well, I've got bad news for me, but good news for Doc. Its a good thing I didn't send the mite yet. Sometime last night or this morning, Koen died.

I named her Koen because it means brave....and that she was. I'm sad that I lost her, but at least I'll be able to send her to Doc Williams to see if there could be a connection, or if it was PPS, or stress from the bathes. Now I have to find something for her to fit into. And no, the vials didn't break.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 8:19 pm

Persciption bottles don't seem to leak. I called my local Petco, not the one I got her from, and they said they don't have any hermits and prolly won't until the middle of next week, so Scott said to just write a note on the companion agreement that I could exchange her w/o bringing her in...I'm gonna test an RX bottle again to be sure, but I can probably send her out in that, and the mite in the vial. Like I said before, at least she'll be going for science, ya know? Hopefully it'll help us identify these little bugs.