Cats and dogs get fleas, dogs get ticks and your hermit crab can get mites. These tiny mites can be seen best with the use of a microscope, and just as ticks and fleas can make your other pests very sick, mites can be deadly to your pet causing it to die prematurely if left untreated.
Mites are the size of a grain of sand or smaller and they are black or brown in color. If you are lucky you'll be able to see them but it's difficult especially if you don't know what your looking for. If your hermit crab scratches because they bites are itchy.
If you have mites on your hermit crabs there are simple steps:
1: Do not buy over the counter mite treatments.
2. Remove everything from the tank and place into boiling hot water This includes rocks, gravel, food bowls and anything else. Leave there for at least 15 minutes. Then remove scrub under normal temperature water and let dry. You should also clean your the tank. Never use any chemicals that can harm him. Once dry replace into the tank.
3. Use Baden immediately upon discovering your crab's mites. Dip them in and out of the water that has been treated. Do it a half dozen times or so to make sure any mites tucked under the shell are removed.
Having mites on your hermit crabs is a regular occurrence. It's just what it is and if it's going to be too big of a problem for you, perhaps hermit crabs aren't the right pet for you. One way to reduce the number of mite breakouts is to clean your hermit crabs home at least a couple of times a month.
These crab's are actually great pet and they are very easy to care for. Like dogs and cats or other pets there are things that go with their ownership and with these little creatures it happens to be mites. There really not a lot of trouble at all once you know how to treat them.
Your hermit crab relies on you for a clean, parasite free home, along with a healthy diet designed for these little guys. In return you'll get a neat little pet that's more rewarding than you might imagine unless you've already owned these little guys.
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