Lifted up my water dish today and a couple of these critters went scurrying for cover.. they were all huddled around what (to my utter horror) appeared to be the perfectly arranged remains of a crab. There were also what looked exactly like rice grains all over the husk which I assume were eggs. The insect is approximately 3/4 inch long and has a distinct devil's fork tail. It apparently cannot climb out of a ceramic cup. I trapped one and took some pictures.
Worst case, a crab was underneath my water dish and got attacked and eaten by these bastards.
Best case, it was just the remains of a successful molt. I did find a crab buried very shallowly a few inches away. However, the remains were on the surface of the sand flush against the water dish, which doesn't seem like the place a crab would molt..
So naturally I freaked out a little bit and relocated 6 of my 11 crabs into iso. I went digging and found two more dug down (one of which was the guy next to the grave site). One appears to be a little soft but both were awake and crawling around. I put them into isolated containers for now. I have yet to find the other 3. However, I am finding a lot of empty shells, more than I remember putting in.. Last time I did a full crab count was several months ago.. I am still digging around as of now..
I plan to give everyone a salt water bath. Then I am nuking the sand in the oven.
But what are these insects and how did I get them?
I keep my tank at about 70 humidity, 72F temp, food/water etc, sand/EE 50 50 mix 6 inch deep
what are these things???!! OMG
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arilou
- Zygote
- Posts: 9
- Joined: 30 May 2009, 12:25
- Hermit crabs: 8
what are these things???!! OMG
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Hermies4Ever
- Zoea II
- Posts: 178
- Joined: 03 May 2006, 06:26
- Gender: Female
Re: what are these things???!! OMG
It appears to me that the insects you encountered were 'earwigs', and in regards to how they got into your crabitat, I truly have no idea...
Here is a link about earwigs. It has some useful information and pics that might help you uncover your mystery bug... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earwig
Here is a link about earwigs. It has some useful information and pics that might help you uncover your mystery bug... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earwig
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CrabbyJo
- Coenobita
- Posts: 1849
- Joined: 21 Jan 2009, 13:31
- Gender: Female
- Hermit crabs: 7
- Total gallons: 85
- Total tanks: 4
- Location: Alaska
Re: what are these things???!! OMG
I know you are concerned about your crabs, but before you continue digging (disturbing a molting crab is often a death sentence for the crab, we are not positive these insects are as of yet a death sentence?) do some research.
From what I am seeing on the net, they are NOT problematic for crabs, there may be some other reason they were clustered on the exo you found.
I am unable to access Crabby Wiki from work (where I am right now), but here is a link to read about pests in the crab tank: Pest in the Crab Tank
I know we tend to panic especially when we think some horrible insect has killed or eaten a crab, but always before you go digging, take a deep breath, calm down, then get researching on the net before you take ANY action.
And yes, it is likely a crab was molting just under the water dish, they love a hard lid over the top of them, I often find crabs hiding under my water dishes, and have had at least one molt below one, where you could see the little guy if you lifted the dish (When I found him I put the dish back filled with shells so I wouldnt have to disturb him any more).
Breathe hon, and don't worry, if it is earwigs, some people put them into their reptile cages as cleaning bugs, as they are vegetarians.
I would say leave the crabs alone that you have not found yet, pick the bugs out as best you can, and wait for the others to come up from molting. Keep picking bugs out each day, until all your crabs have come up from molting. Read up on the bugs so you know what you are dealing with and can feel confident about your plan of action, without panicking
Also, DO NOT BATHE a post molt crab. They need a minimum of a week to harden, and putting them in water can interfere with the process, which if I remember correctly can also be a death sentence for the crab.
Don't panic, bugs suck I know, I had to leave a crab in a tank full of mites (he was molting, and taking his sweet time about it) until I could order predator mites to clean them out, which took them a couple of weeks to do. I hated leaving him, but to dig him up would likely have killed him.
From what I am seeing on the net, they are NOT problematic for crabs, there may be some other reason they were clustered on the exo you found.
I am unable to access Crabby Wiki from work (where I am right now), but here is a link to read about pests in the crab tank: Pest in the Crab Tank
I know we tend to panic especially when we think some horrible insect has killed or eaten a crab, but always before you go digging, take a deep breath, calm down, then get researching on the net before you take ANY action.
And yes, it is likely a crab was molting just under the water dish, they love a hard lid over the top of them, I often find crabs hiding under my water dishes, and have had at least one molt below one, where you could see the little guy if you lifted the dish (When I found him I put the dish back filled with shells so I wouldnt have to disturb him any more).
Breathe hon, and don't worry, if it is earwigs, some people put them into their reptile cages as cleaning bugs, as they are vegetarians.
I would say leave the crabs alone that you have not found yet, pick the bugs out as best you can, and wait for the others to come up from molting. Keep picking bugs out each day, until all your crabs have come up from molting. Read up on the bugs so you know what you are dealing with and can feel confident about your plan of action, without panicking
Also, DO NOT BATHE a post molt crab. They need a minimum of a week to harden, and putting them in water can interfere with the process, which if I remember correctly can also be a death sentence for the crab.
Don't panic, bugs suck I know, I had to leave a crab in a tank full of mites (he was molting, and taking his sweet time about it) until I could order predator mites to clean them out, which took them a couple of weeks to do. I hated leaving him, but to dig him up would likely have killed him.
6 hermit crabs - 3 PPs and 3 Equadorians
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Please feel free to share information from this website, but please be sure to give credit and a link back to the information. Failure to give credit is plagiarism. Don't take credit for someone else's information.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please feel free to share information from this website, but please be sure to give credit and a link back to the information. Failure to give credit is plagiarism. Don't take credit for someone else's information.
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arilou
- Zygote
- Posts: 9
- Joined: 30 May 2009, 12:25
- Hermit crabs: 8
Re: what are these things???!! OMG
thanks!! that's GOTTA be itHermies4Ever wrote:It appears to me that the insects you encountered were 'earwigs', and in regards to how they got into your crabitat, I truly have no idea...
Here is a link about earwigs. It has some useful information and pics that might help you uncover your mystery bug... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earwig
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Hermies4Ever
- Zoea II
- Posts: 178
- Joined: 03 May 2006, 06:26
- Gender: Female
Re: what are these things???!! OMG
You're very welcome! Glad to help!
arilou wrote:thanks!! that's GOTTA be itHermies4Ever wrote:It appears to me that the insects you encountered were 'earwigs', and in regards to how they got into your crabitat, I truly have no idea...
Here is a link about earwigs. It has some useful information and pics that might help you uncover your mystery bug... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earwig
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Wai
- Administrator
- Posts: 2915
- Joined: 01 Nov 2004, 14:12
- Gender: Male
- Hermit crabs: 6
- Total gallons: 45
- Total tanks: 1
- Location: Victoria, Australia
- Contact:
Re: what are these things???!! OMG
So were all your hermit crabs unharmed by the earwigs?
I must emphasise on the importance of not bathing pre-hardened hermit crabs. Every time I did it in the past, it resulted in death minutes afterwards.
I must emphasise on the importance of not bathing pre-hardened hermit crabs. Every time I did it in the past, it resulted in death minutes afterwards.
Wai
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arilou
- Zygote
- Posts: 9
- Joined: 30 May 2009, 12:25
- Hermit crabs: 8
Re: what are these things???!! OMG
yes it seems they are fine. in fact, within a day they were much more active after being placed in my backup tank. i noticed before i moved them they seemed lethargic and would always be hiding. now they can't get enough sunbathing as shown below. something about that old tank was funky i guess.
i'm going to hold off on the bathing altogether for now and make them comfortable in their new home. i plan on deep cleaning the old tank from bottom up and add brand new fixtures etc before moving them back.
the sad news is that i went ahead and very gently combed the sand for the last 3 crabs and.. nothing.. they're just gone.. i hope to god they weren't eaten alive by those things. i am definitely going to check for bugs more often now.
i'm going to hold off on the bathing altogether for now and make them comfortable in their new home. i plan on deep cleaning the old tank from bottom up and add brand new fixtures etc before moving them back.
the sad news is that i went ahead and very gently combed the sand for the last 3 crabs and.. nothing.. they're just gone.. i hope to god they weren't eaten alive by those things. i am definitely going to check for bugs more often now.
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ladybug15057
- Coenobita
- Posts: 3098
- Joined: 03 Mar 2008, 04:12
- Gender: Female
- Hermit crabs: 82
- Total gallons: 305
- Total tanks: 7
- Location: Southwestern Pa., U.S.
Re: what are these things???!! OMG
May I make a suggestion? Prior to assuming they are 'gone', many times after a hermit molts they can fit way down within their shells. Some to the point where one would think the shells are empty. So prior to boiling any shells or just leaving them out of the tank, put water in them with the hole side up. Wait and see if eventually the shell turns itself right side up. Hopefully the little ones are just deep within a shell?
Marie (aka ladybug15057)
If you are contacted privately (via pm or e-mail) and enticed to join another forum, please contact a Crab Crew member. This is an unethical practice.
If you are contacted privately (via pm or e-mail) and enticed to join another forum, please contact a Crab Crew member. This is an unethical practice.
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Wai
- Administrator
- Posts: 2915
- Joined: 01 Nov 2004, 14:12
- Gender: Male
- Hermit crabs: 6
- Total gallons: 45
- Total tanks: 1
- Location: Victoria, Australia
- Contact:
Re: what are these things???!! OMG
Do a shell count to make sure none of the shells are missing (if any shells are missing, then the hermit crabs have escaped the tank).
Wai
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arilou
- Zygote
- Posts: 9
- Joined: 30 May 2009, 12:25
- Hermit crabs: 8
Re: what are these things???!! OMG
no unturned shells..ladybug15057 wrote:May I make a suggestion? Prior to assuming they are 'gone', many times after a hermit molts they can fit way down within their shells. Some to the point where one would think the shells are empty. So prior to boiling any shells or just leaving them out of the tank, put water in them with the hole side up. Wait and see if eventually the shell turns itself right side up. Hopefully the little ones are just deep within a shell?
good suggestion but even though I can't remember exactly how many extra shells I had before, it definitely wasn't as many as turned up.. but I can't be sureWai wrote:Do a shell count to make sure none of the shells are missing (if any shells are missing, then the hermit crabs have escaped the tank).