Do you have any pictures of what they look like? Are you keeping your crestie on a coco fiber-type substrate? There are some little bugs that appear gross an mite-like that are actually beneficial to have in your vivs, like springtails.
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Do they look like this? Because these are springtails. They break down poop, rotting leaves, ect in your viv, which may be why they are going after the food. They don't really bother the animals. They tend to appear in warm, humid environments, like your hermit crab tank.The mites that are harmful to reptiles are the nasty little red ones. Springtails will actually clean your tank, and many people use them in live planted set ups for geckos... I bought some to put in my viv!
Ugh. The Petco employee was clueless, but that should really come as no surprise. There are somewhere around 50,000 different kinds of mites. And they do tend to be rather specific in the type of animals they parasitize. A lizard mite is not going to be interested in a hermit crab, and vice versa. A reptile mite is generally not going to be interested in a mammal, etc. Many Petco stores just have so many constant problems with mites due to poor conditions that to them it probably just seems like one continuous infection. I can't even walk through their animal displays anymore, because I end up giving the section employee an earful when they're probably not entirely to blame - the company itself is.
Be careful with those mite sprays. They claim they are safe, but can still be harmful to your pet. Especially if it gets into their drinking water - and crested geckos are likely to be licking the condensation off the sides of the cage, obviously a place that you might spray. I would definitely not use it anywhere near your hermit crab.
Assuming they're not just springtails like Jess said, the best way to get rid of mites is to clean, clean, clean. Generally, eggs and larvae are not living on the animal itself, but in the substrate, so being fastidious about cleaning can break their life-cycle... but that means everything: Replacing substrate and thoroughly sanitizing any sticks, rocks, water bowls, etc. At least a couple times a week until they are gone. If you can see mites on your pets, rinsing them off with dechlorinated water can be helpful. Obviously, a hermit crab can be rather difficult to clean off.
Be careful with those mite sprays. They claim they are safe, but can still be harmful to your pet. Especially if it gets into their drinking water - and crested geckos are likely to be licking the condensation off the sides of the cage, obviously a place that you might spray. I would definitely not use it anywhere near your hermit crab.
Assuming they're not just springtails like Jess said, the best way to get rid of mites is to clean, clean, clean. Generally, eggs and larvae are not living on the animal itself, but in the substrate, so being fastidious about cleaning can break their life-cycle... but that means everything: Replacing substrate and thoroughly sanitizing any sticks, rocks, water bowls, etc. At least a couple times a week until they are gone. If you can see mites on your pets, rinsing them off with dechlorinated water can be helpful. Obviously, a hermit crab can be rather difficult to clean off.
Mites are unwelcome hitchhikers. If you go into a pet store that has an infestation, you could end up bringing some home with you and not even realize it. Especially if you happen to buy supplies, like bedding substrate or other porous caging materials there. They could have eggs and/or larvae hiding in them.
For each of the cages that I use carpeting in, I cut two identical pieces. So I always have a clean one in the cage, and have the second one, after I scrub it down, I let it soak in a bucket with some chlorhexidine and dish detergent for a couple days. Then I can just swap them out when the one in the cage gets messy.
I've heard that many people recommend baking mulch or eco-earth type substrates, even sticks and rocks, but I've never done it myself. With my luck, I'd probably just start a fire in my oven.
For each of the cages that I use carpeting in, I cut two identical pieces. So I always have a clean one in the cage, and have the second one, after I scrub it down, I let it soak in a bucket with some chlorhexidine and dish detergent for a couple days. Then I can just swap them out when the one in the cage gets messy.
I've heard that many people recommend baking mulch or eco-earth type substrates, even sticks and rocks, but I've never done it myself. With my luck, I'd probably just start a fire in my oven.
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