What kind of mites get on hermit crabs? Can they effect humans?

Question

i have clean my tank and nuke the sponge just want to make sure they won't affect me

Answer 1

I have hermit crabs and have never notice mites.. you might try cleaning a little harder

Answer 2

I'm not really sure the species of mites that feed on hermit crabs. I don't think they harm people but they will kill hermit crabs.

Throw out the sponge and any other unsalvage able mite loving toy. Wood, coconut fibre sheets etc.

Remove all the sand and either throw it out or bake it. Personally I would throw it out and start over.

Bake the new sand and make coconut fibre ( if you use it) in boiled salt water.

Mites hate oil and salt so use this to your advantage.

Take the crabs out and give them a gentle salt water bath. turn them upside down and scoop off any mites that float to the surface. After the bath move them to a sterile environement. only leave food in there for a short time and use a towel or paper towel to line the bottom. This is the only time a plastic bos is okay to use as a home.

Then bake or boil all other tank items. Wash plastic plants in hot salt water then dry it off and put it in the freezer.

You have to do this for three days mites have a 3 day life cycle

FOr the main tank scrub the h**l out of it. use vegetable oil along the edges to smother any eggs then wash it down. If you can take it out side to hose it down even better.

After giving your crabs a bath you need to move them to a new container. Scrub out the old one like you did your tank

On day four bake new sand clean toys again and give the crabs a final bath. hopefully then the mites are all gone

Answer 3

no they cannot affect humans. but they can get rather annoying. just clean the tank and stuff in the tank very well, and  clean the hermit crabs very well. you'll be fine.