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Post by AlienSnail on Sept 16, 2010 20:49:15 GMT
are they good or bad? ive given him wash. Do they jump when they are disturbed? If so then they are harmless springtails. Do the congragate around the food in the tank or stay on the snail near the shell opening? If the congregate around the food then they're very likely to be harmless. Are they round, slow-moving and you can hardly see their legs? If so, and if they stay mostly arounf the shell opening and crawl in and out of the snail's breathing hole then they are likely to be harmful mites. One of the best ways to get rid of them is by purchasing Hypoaspis miles predatory mites from ww.defenders.co.uk, sold as sciarid fly control.
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Post by purplestar on Sept 18, 2010 15:09:11 GMT
well since i gave him a shower/bath. i havent seen them. i only saw like 2...
but im sure i'll keep an eye out for them... if i see more i'll just get some Hypoaspis miles predatory mites to be safe then sorry.
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Post by purplestar on Sept 22, 2010 6:17:31 GMT
i asked the seller of my jade. about the mites. and i got positive answer. "i use Hypoaspis miles in my enclosures to control any outbreak of fruit mites, and I dosed about a week ago so it could be those left in the substrate, they tend to survive for a fortnight without food. I also use springtails so its a possibility it could of been these, I have 4 different springtail cultures so depending on colour." so the mites on him arnt somethign to worrie about.
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Post by stixandsnailsyork on Sept 22, 2010 7:24:46 GMT
Thats good then, I have springtails they are an awsome addition to the tank and really do help keep it clean once you have a good size colony and they reproduce like mad, I started with a small tub from a member on here now i have them in most tanks but haven't got a clue how they got there, lol.
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Post by purplestar on Sept 22, 2010 15:39:19 GMT
oh. thats good. im gettin there bigger tank sent soon. as this 12 inch by 8 inch is too small now. maybe once thats sorted out i could try get some.
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Post by theodidactus on Nov 12, 2010 17:22:46 GMT
uh oh...think I spotted some of these guys tonight. Tiny white buggies crawling along one poor snail's shell. Could it be anything else?
I know for certain I won't be able to mail-order countermites out here...I'll have to hope a cage cleanup and bath tomorrow will take care of them.
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Post by AlienSnail on Nov 12, 2010 18:32:05 GMT
Can you see any going into the breathing hole? Are they white and round? Is it hard to see their legs? If so it sounds like the parasitic snail mites.
I'm sorry ti say that I think your only option would be to remove the soil completely and place them on damp kitchen towel, bathe the snails regularly and give them plenty of veg that is both fresh and old. The snails do not appreciate being kept too clean as they require bacteria to digest their food. This is normally found in the soil and in their own poo, both of which you may need to remove to clear the mites. I recommend old food as this contains (so I am led to believe) some of the bacteria necessary for their digestion.
They shouldn't come to harm being kept very clean for a short term while you clear the mites.
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Post by theodidactus on Nov 12, 2010 18:41:28 GMT
I'll take another look at the beasties tomorrow. I gave them a close inspection when I captured the snails in the first place, taking care to inspect the breathing holes...didn't see anything then, but I may have missed the invaders...or they came later.
It's possible they're fruit mites or some other tank fauna, I've been experimenting with lots of new foods lately, and some invaders may have hitched a ride. Anyhow, I only saw one or two, and only on one snail, so I may have caught them early.
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Post by AlienSnail on Nov 12, 2010 19:33:00 GMT
It sounds hopeful that they are harmless. There are mites that love in the soil and eat vegatation. I hope this is the case with your's
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Post by theodidactus on Nov 13, 2010 8:07:58 GMT
I cleaned the snails and put them in a new cage today, and took the opportunity to give them a look-over for mites.
One snail had two of the same mite I spotted the night before: extremely small, probably the size of a period, no visible legs, and white. I've still been unable to see any of the pests on the snails body or breathing hole, just on the shell. They might be fruit mites or some other tank fauna.
The school might be getting a microscope soon. Anyone seen snail slime under a microscope?
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