Our hermit crab has these little tiny bugs all over it, looks like mites. How do we get rid of them?!!

Question

He never comes out of his shell. I have to put him in water and make him stay there for a bit. He isn't eating that we can tell. And, he has lots of little bugs all over him. Are they mites? How do we get rid of them? Will they kill him?

Answer 1

there is mite spray avalible at your local pet store. sadly it costs more than the crab. it only runs about 5-10 dollars.

Answer 2

Mites if left long enough can cause serious harm to hermit crabs even killing them. But this also depends on the type of mites you have.

Buying mite killing products is not a good idea. hermit crabs are related to mites so what will kill a mite will kill a hermit crab.

You need to get two isolation units. This is the only time a plastic bin or container will do.

Take all the substrate out of your tank and throw it out. Then you need to remove all extra shells and toys. Boil the shells in hermy safe salt water. Wash the other toys in hot salt water. Any woods should be baked or thrown out.

After scrubbing bag up all toys and dishes and put them in the freezer.

Then you need to hose out the tank and scrub it with boiled water and vinegar. Dry it then using a tiny amount of vegetable oil on a paper towel just rub it into all the edges let it sit for a while then wash it off. Mites hate oil, salt and bright light use this to your advantage.

THe hermit crabs need to be bathed in safe salt water. Leave them under wanter no more then 30 seconds and scoop off any mites that float to the top.

Place the hermit crabs in isolation tank number one use a towel or paper towel to line the bottom.

On day two they need another bath and you need to place them in a new isolation tank.

Scrub the life out of the old isolation tank

You need three days of baths. Mites have a three day cycle.

On the fourth day wash the main tank again. bake the sand you wish to use. or make coconut fibre in boiled salt water. clean all shells again and one more bath for your crabs.

Answer 3

Virtually, the mites can't kill the crabs. But the stress can. Mites are like those little tiny bugs that fly around and don't bite you at your local campground. Except here, they're ALWAYS flying around you, as well as on you.

The mites also slow the crabs down and make them tired. Its important you clean out the tank as well as the crabs.

To clean the crabs, you can do one of two things:

• Buy an anti mite spray.

• Do the safer way.

Obviously its better to do the safer way, if you do the anti mite spray just follow the directions on the bottle.

THE SAFER WAY

But your crabs in a large empty container, preferably a big blue Tupperware container. Also fill that with some of the climbing toys and a hideout and food and water. Empty out all the substrate and either bake it at 300 degrees F for 15 minutes to sterilize it or throw it out and replace it. If you bake it, what you can do to wait is wipe down all of the sides of the tank. Also make sure that all heating sources are turned off. Important, when you wash the sides of the tank put some pressure on the sides to kill the mites. They survive easier than other bugs. I'd clean the tank 2 - 3 times too insure no mites. While the tank is drying, and your crabs are playing. Prepare a bath. If you do not know how to do this, look one up on Y! answers or here http://www.hermit-crabs.com you'll learn alot about mites on the FAQ's page. Now, bath the crabs 3 - 6 times too get rid of the mites, then what I do is have them in a different tank for day, during this time you can change the tank setup and the crabs can come home clean and ready to explore the new crabitat!

Good Luck!  

Answer 4

Judging from your pet's condition, it's best if u bring him to the vet before it's too late. Good luck!!!!!!!!! =)