Strange Bug In Tank

[Dezzi]

Hello everyone, I am new to this site, and happy to be here. I have 4 PP's, and have been crabbin' for about 10 months now. We started with my daughter getting 2 hermie's at the beach, (in a horrible small wire cage) last summer. -Right away I did A TON of research and reading about these guys- they now live in a 55G tank, get both fresh NC & sea salt water, and only fresh/organic foods to eat.
Anyway on to my problem, so today I go to "spot clean" and mist the tank, and I see a Bug! It was silver in color, had like a Fin-like tail, and it was Very Fast! I tried to quickly grab it, but it darted into the Eco. So I started moving the top of the substrate around, trying to find it, and I had No luck. I am positive it was not a mite, it was much bigger. And it moved around in the substrate like a Pro! I was so shocked. Before I add either Eco or Moss, I soak them both in boiling salt water to try to keep bugs out. So I am Freaking out a little. I really want it out. Normally, I would remove & boil everything in the tank, and do a deep clean, but one of my crabs is under molting right now, so I can't do that. Does anyone know what this bug could be? And if it Is harmful to my crabs, what should I do? I know not to dig up a molting crab, but if this bug could kill her- then should I? I Really don't want to have to do that to her. Please Help. Any information I would Welcome. I looked closely at my other crabs, and they will come pretty far out of the shell for me, and I didn't "see" anything on them- Should I give them a salt bath? Thank You So Much! And Sorry So Long.

[emmac350]

Check out the "Guide to bugs you might find in your crabitat" article at http://hermitcrabaddiction.net/forum/in ... pic=1334.0. It sounds like a springtail to me.

[ladybug15057]

I agree it sounds like a springtail, but you do need to be a member to view the link above. If you're not a member there, here is a link all can view without needing to be a member:

BugGuide

springtails are not harmful to our hermies if that is what it is, even though it may give us the heebeegeebees!

[Dezzi]

Thank you Both So much for the fast response That was great info. I agree, I think what I saw was either a springtail, or a silverfish. And it seems that neither of these are harmful to crabs, or will lay eggs, so I am thankful for that. Oh Yes I Def. have the heebie-geebies~! Something brushed up against me after I saw it and I slapped my arm! I don't know how it got in the tank. I do "switch-out" their cocohuts & pieces of cholla wood when they get damp, so maybe it hitched a ride on those? I will be Very happy when I get to clean out the tank (after she comes up & gets settled from her molt) and get rid of it. Thank you again!

[Lette44]

I'm with you! Bugs give me the heebie geebies. That's one reason I fear switching from sand to EE. If I see even something that moves in the tank I'd freak out! I get that way with ants too. Let there be one ant in my kitchen and I start to itch. And now with the crabs I can't use my ant & roach spray so I set traps for the coming season. When it rains we have slugs - Ughhh. Some seem to be as thick as a small snake (ugh again) with black stripes. They are disgusting. Hope you catch the little sucker Lette

[emmac350]

You can get rid of slugs with beer sitting out in a shallow dish or a jar lid. The smell is irresistible to them and they can't escape once they're in. That's what my parents do in their garden when the slugs come in for the season.

[Dezzi]

I hope that I can find that bug again and squish it, I have a mini flashlight and I've been looking for him. Even if it is a harmless bug, just the thought of it in the tank with my crabs, is driving me Crazy! "Errrr!" Especially since I have one burried. I have the tank kind of split, with half playsand, and the other (much deeper) side a mix of playsand and Eco. and I saw the bug on the side with the Eco. I have never seen a bug like it before in my life. Very Creepy.

[emmac350]

Well, if this helps you, try to remember that in the wild, no one is walking around where crabs are molting to keep the bugs away, so you don't REALLY need to worry about it. Crabs have survived outside for longer than we've been keeping them as pets, so you shouldn't stress out too much about it.