HCA: Hermit Crab Association

So I just rescued these two crabs that were found in a tank that was dumped in a dumpster. Really how cruel can people be... its horrible.

One of them looks to have a molt sac tho. And they are each missing a leg But otherwise they seem healthy. They aren't and active. But when I was bathing them I found this bug... not sure if it is a mite or not

Its whitish yellow and has attached itself to a hair from my cat.

Why would people throw away hermit crabs like that its worng

I would look on the mite page to see some visuals, but I think I read that they tend to gather around the eyes or antenna. Double check everything I just said lol. I've never had mites so I'm not sure lol.

Yes I went to the page but im not sure what kind they are, so I bathed them again and more came off and they are easy to see. So im setting them up in Iso for now and I will just keep bathing them daily. I have never had this issue before so im kinda Wiggin out.. lol

I totally would too. Keeping them in ISO is a great idea. Hopefully you have the ability to wash them a few times a day and get it under control quick! Good luck!!

Thank you, yes I do but I just dont want to stress them out any more... I mean they were dumped like trash...

it's so sad. Give them lots of yummy treats. That's what I would do! Did u find them or did you get a tip? How were they discovered?

I use stress coat on mine when I bathe them, it might help.
It does look like a mite...or a louse?

I used to volunteer at a nature center around my way, so the animal coordinator knew me well and I have adopted crabs from her before. Well her intern was going to throw things away in her apartments dumpster and she found the tank, so when she took out the tank she discovered the crabs. So she asked the animal coordinator what to do so I got an immediate call from her. Then I got her interns # and we arranged for a pick up.

Hermit-Yote wrote:I use stress coat on mine when I bathe them, it might help.
It does look like a mite...or a louse?

I didn't even think of that. Thank you [WHITE SMILING FACE]

What do you guys think I should do... when im cleaning the tank... spray with vinegar solution and wipe down or just use dechlorinated water? I am doing the extra strength saltwater bath... the mites just keep on coming. I read the entire mite thread over and over. Will vinegar kill the the ones running around in the tank?

Oh wow not sure about the mite, but is the crab on the left wearing a sinistral shell?

It's book lice - I think. I've found them running around the shells of my crabs years ago and they've never taken over or caused any damage. Not in the numbers you are finding though. There's a good chance they're in the crab's shells for moisture rather than doing harm to the crabs. Still, it's a good idea to do the bathing for now. With the pointy abdomen and the legs I really think you're looking at a 6 legged insect and not an 8 legged mite.

Definitely get the crabs some turbos and they should change. Neither is a good shell choice for PPs. Kip is right that one is in a sinistral shell! Either you have a seriously unique crab still wearing it's original shell, or the poor thing is going to be frantic to change into a shell that goes the right direction. Once they change shells you should have a better idea how the infestation is.

Are they in a fresh tank? Offer fresh fruits and something starch based (cereal) as well which should lure the booklice out. They have pretty particular feeding habits.

Do you know how long they were in the dumpster? The only worry about the crabs I would have is that colder weather. Effects of being too cold take a long time to rear up.

When I had mites, I put my crabs into a quarantine tank. The Q tank is a 10g with no substrate, save for moistened paper towels. I have a plastic basket for climbing, hiding, and it's easy to clean.
I clean the tank daily, and completely. Everything is taken out and washed thoroughly. The crabs are bathed in stress coat, I check carefully to be sure there aren't any mites in the water after I dunk each one.
That should help, please ask if you have any questions!

Ok so for the first few days I had not had any paper towels so I made up some cocofiber. yesterday I took them off of the cocofiber since I finally grabbed some papertowels. but even when I had the on plain eco earth I did not see them in or on the substrate. since they are a light cream white color I have not seen any. when I bathed them yesterday I had quite a few come off in the freshwater after the salt bath.
when I bathed them today none came off in either water, but I can see them in their leg segments. that's where they seem to be living.
they do kind of look like lice Wod, they are kind of flat looking and have many legs but I have not counted them. I will try adding in the starchy foods. but will the lice transfer to me? im suddenly feeling very itchy... lol
I have also been giving them honey and coral calcium mix. they gobble it up.

I don't know how long they were in the dumpster, but as soon as the girl found them she took them out and put them in a tank with a heating pad for over night. the one in the spiral shell is active and eagly eats. the other is not as active but still gets around well. the other one is the one that has the molt sac.