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  1. #1
    BPnet Lifer Skittles1101's Avatar
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    Hermit crab mites

    I hope this is the right section...they technically have legs and an exoskeleton lol. I have had my hermit crabs (got two for my son) for about 2 years ago. They keep getting tiny little mites! They aren't anywhere else in the house except the enclosure, and I end up having to clean and scrub the enclosure once a month and I use this "mite guard/killer" stuff that you sprinkle on the bottom before you add the sand...and it seems to only keep them away for a month. Can anyone recommend any mite killer for hermit crabs that they know works? I soak them during the mite treatment twice a day for about 3-4 days (in their quarantine enclosure) before I put them back in the new clean tank. Other than the stupid mites they act like normal hermit crabs and seem happy as far as crabs go I guess. Any ideas? This is how my cleaning schedule goes every month:

    -Spot clean with a scooper about once a week
    -once a month when/if I see the mites (usually around the water and food dish and on the crabs themselves) I remove the crabs and put them in their quarantine enclosure.
    -I dump the sand and boil the dishes, hides, climbing branches, extra shells, etc
    -I scrub the tank with a bleach/water solution in the tub, rinse and dry
    -Sprinkle the stupid mite guard on the bottom, paying close attention to the corners and edges.
    -replace the sand and redecorate with the newly cleaned items
    -I leave the crabs in quarantine for 3-4 days giving two soaks a day, then place them back in their tank.

    It's just such a PITA to do this every single month because of the mites. I just want a product that works, and Petco is useless as we all know.
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  2. #2
    BPnet Senior Member Boanerges's Avatar
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    I am of no help because I never kept hermit crabs but in sounds like a pain in the butt Hopefully someone will be of some help to you!!!
    Jeff Bernard

  3. #3
    BPnet Veteran Homegrownscales's Avatar
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    This is just a suggestion. If it were me if do a little research on the subject. But It sounds like you arent getting rid of the mites. It will definately be almost impossible to completely get rid of them using Thr method you are. But... Have you ever heard of Hypoaspis? They are a type of predator mite. Def worth a look. Holistic and when the bad mites are gone they kill themselves off. I think something like that would get rid of the mite problem. As I know they need a 1/2-1 inch of sub to borrow into and colonize. You mix 2 tbs of the vermiculite with the good mites into your sub and they eat the bad ones. I dont know much about
    The crabs but this seems like it could be a possible solution. You can get them online. I looked up a link not to long ago. I'll try and find it for you.
    Hope this helps.
    Morgan

    Check out what's new on my website... www.Homegrownscales.com

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