Mites

[Miamiborn35]

I need guidance. I know I have some form of a mite in my crab tank, but I don’t know what kind and if they’re harmful or not. They are extremely hard to see. And they appear to be the same color as my substrate. I can only tell they are there when little grains of sand start moving. My crabs also seem a little pale in color. More particular one of my crabs does. So I’m trying to discern if they might have Shell rot or a fungus, or if these mites might possibly be on them. Could you please help? 

[Miamiborn35]

FYI… I also privately messaged this question to you through Instagram and there I was able to post pictures and videos for you to review

[Miamiborn35]

They also have distinct black specs on some of their legs, and I’m afraid one of them might have Shell rot? Please help me?! If I need to take drastic measures. I want to know as soon as possible. I have had my crabs for almost 3 years and I love them dearly! I am extremely concerned.

[curlysister]

Hi! I'm not sure who you would have messaged on Instagram. But please post photos here, using either the Tapa Talk app, or a link to a photo sharing website.
The vast majority of mites are NOT harmful to crabs, so I'm going to say that the ones in your tank are probably not harmful.
Shell rot is also extremely rare.

[Miamiborn35]

What about spider mites?

[Miamiborn35]

Look, I have spent hours of research trying to learn about my hermit crabs and their needs. I purchase all of my dry foods like worm castings, oyster shells, crab and lobster shells, and insect frass all from you. I have had my crabs nearly 3 years now, and I love them very dearly! It is very hard to filter through the bad information from the good online. I learned very quickly to only listen to advice learned from the hermit crab association. I have found some conflicting information that I was under the impression, was coming from you guys? It’s a link to information regarding mites, the removal of mites, and bathing your hermit crabs to remove the mites. Also, I would love to post my pictures and videos. Let me see if I can figure out how to do that.

[Miamiborn35]

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[Miamiborn35]

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[Miamiborn35]

Please tell me if this looks normal and I have nothing to worry about?


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[Miamiborn35]

I just finished doing a deep clean of the tank. I took out and boiled all the shells, boiled all the rocks, washed the decorations and wiped everything down really well. Before I do anything more drastic than that, I’m going to wait to hear from you. I’m not going to break down their tank, isolate them to a temporary, and start bathing them until I hear from you.


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[curlysister]

Those look very much like food mites, which are not harmful at all. Mites that are harmful to crabs would have to come from another crab, they would not be introduced with food or items from outdoors, etc. So if you have had your crabs for 3 years and have not added any other crabs recently, they wouldn't be mites that are harmful. Even if you do all the things you did, food mites may come back.
We do have a care sheet about mites, and it has photos of the different types of mites. Is that what you are referring to?
Spider mites live on plants - do you have live plants in the tank?
The black spots on their legs are normal.
I'm not sure who you messaged on Insta, or who you purchase your foods etc from, but I don't believe it is HCA. As a group we don't sell things.

[Miamiborn35]

No I don’t have live plants…I did purchase some predatory mites that I saw when reading through the past threads? However, I am still a little confused on how they work and if they’re something I would eventually have to remove themselves or if they just live in the tank with the crabs? Do you recommend I don’t use them?… Sorry it’s not you that I purchase my stuff through, but it is this, could you check it out and tell me if it’s legit?…https://lhcos.org/


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[Miamiborn35]

Also, now that I finally found somebody that I feel like I can trust and ask questions regarding my hermit crabs… I have two hermit crabs. I did have three, but I had an ant infestation last summer, and I had to evacuate them. One of them was actively molting and did not survive the evacuation. The two that I have, one is significantly larger than the other. I think it might be a male and the smaller one a female. Sometimes my larger crab can seem as though he’s bullying my smaller one. Is that normal or anything that I should be concerned about?
I have a tendency to overreact when it comes to my hermit crabs. This is very unknown territory for me. Obviously lol


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[Miamiborn35]

Also regarding the mite issue…I have 2 dogs and a cat, the cat would like to lay on the top of the tank. I think I’ve put a stop to that. But my reason for bringing this up is, very often the humidity in the tank will get fairly high, so I have to crack the lid a little bit. You don’t think any harmful critters would have gotten in from my other animals, carrying it in from the outdoors? I’m so sorry if I’m being a nuisance. It’s just nice to have somebody to consult about any concerns


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[curlysister]

Ah okay. That is a different group. They are a legit group, but I cannot comment on any of what they sell, as I am not familiar with it.

I have never used predatory mites, but from my understanding they will stay in the tank and live with your hermit crabs. You won't remove them.

The food mites will have come in with food, they are very common and it is not anything you did wrong. My cats love to lay on the top of my tank too, since it is nice and warm LOL. They will not have carried any mites in.

When you say aggression, what is the larger one doing to the smaller one? Right now I have a jumbo and at least one very small crab (there were two, and I can't tell them apart, so don't know if I only now have one because they never seem to be on the surface at the same time). The larger one pretty much ignores the small one in my tank, but sometimes literally walks over top of him like he would a log or other decor.