larvae in sponges

maraar2 · 06-29-2008, 02:13 PM

Hi! We've had our hermit crabs for about a month now. Today I noticed a couple of gnats flying in the tank, and the sponges (more in the salt water sponge than the fresh) are infested with larvae. I've microwaved them in water, and rinsed, dumped, repeated many times. I can still see some larvae: anyone had this experience? Can we still use the sponges, I feel reasonably sure that all the hot water and microwaving has killed them. Any advice at all will be appreciated. Thanks in advance=)

HermitPaws · 06-30-2008, 09:31 PM

Have you tryed boiling them ?

krackersmom2 · 06-30-2008, 10:19 PM

Microwaving them should do the trick since it also sanitizes a sponge. The only question I would have is did you microwave it long enough? Personally I would just boil the heck out of it

ninjasgorawr · 06-30-2008, 10:22 PM

how long do the sponges usually last before you need to throw them out?

**vckums** · 06-30-2008, 10:49 PM

Yucky, I'd toss the sponges. I was never a real fan of using them. Too much work. If you're worried about smaller crabs getting in and out, use plastic plants and aquarium rocks in your water bowls.

Hermie's rule · 07-01-2008, 12:37 PM

Sponges do help with humidity in your tank though... Speaking of trashing sponges I need to trash or change a couple that I've got right now.

ninjasgorawr · 07-01-2008, 12:42 PM

how often do you need to trash them, though? once a month or what.?

**HERMEZ** · 07-02-2008, 08:11 AM

in the case of the eggs they would be goners! I like sponges but if it was infested baby BYE BYE BYE

Cleets658 · 07-02-2008, 02:28 PM

i don't use the sponge. The pet store told me too but it doesn't absorb any water. So I just use the water bowl.

bluconspiracy · 07-02-2008, 07:04 PM

Well I change my sponges out once a week. I take one out and boil it than let it air dry. I just rotate them like that. I haven't had my hermit crabs long enough to know when to throw them out all together though...

06-29-2008, 02:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
maraar2 Hi, I'm New Here! Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1	larvae in sponges Hi! We've had our hermit crabs for about a month now. Today I noticed a couple of gnats flying in the tank, and the sponges (more in the salt water sponge than the fresh) are infested with larvae. I've microwaved them in water, and rinsed, dumped, repeated many times. I can still see some larvae: anyone had this experience? Can we still use the sponges, I feel reasonably sure that all the hot water and microwaving has killed them. Any advice at all will be appreciated. Thanks in advance=)

06-30-2008, 09:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
HermitPaws "Third Molt, A Success" Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Centennial,colorado Posts: 934	Re: larvae in sponges Have you tryed boiling them ? __________________ PHOTOS,RECIPES 4 CRABS= http://hermitpaws.webs.com/

06-30-2008, 10:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
krackersmom2 (Large Crab) Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: South TX (near the beach) Posts: 1,116	Re: larvae in sponges Microwaving them should do the trick since it also sanitizes a sponge. The only question I would have is did you microwave it long enough? Personally I would just boil the heck out of it __________________ 12 PP's: Spooky, Baby, Flash, Rocky, Herbie, Violet, Fester, Zeus, Neptune, Mars, Luna and Misterie R.I.P:Hercules and Apollo

06-30-2008, 10:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
ninjasgorawr (Micro Crab) Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NV Posts: 83	Re: larvae in sponges how long do the sponges usually last before you need to throw them out?

06-30-2008, 10:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
vckums Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: California Posts: 1,632	Re: larvae in sponges Yucky, I'd toss the sponges. I was never a real fan of using them. Too much work. If you're worried about smaller crabs getting in and out, use plastic plants and aquarium rocks in your water bowls. __________________ Vicki 100% Organic Hermit Crab Food www.hermitcrabaddictionstore.com

07-01-2008, 12:37 PM	#6 (permalink)
Hermie's rule "Preparing For Second Molt" Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: In front of the crabitat! :) Posts: 383	Re: larvae in sponges Sponges do help with humidity in your tank though... Speaking of trashing sponges I need to trash or change a couple that I've got right now. __________________

07-01-2008, 12:42 PM	#7 (permalink)
ninjasgorawr (Micro Crab) Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NV Posts: 83	Re: larvae in sponges how often do you need to trash them, though? once a month or what.?

07-02-2008, 08:11 AM	#8 (permalink)
HERMEZ Moderator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: NC Posts: 1,195	Re: larvae in sponges in the case of the eggs they would be goners! I like sponges but if it was infested baby BYE BYE BYE __________________ 22PP's~9 Rugs~9 E's~5 Straws~2 Indo's~4 Violas~ http://photobucket.com/albums/a96/Herm-EZ/

07-02-2008, 02:28 PM	#9 (permalink)
Cleets658 Hi, I'm New Here! Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 4	Re: larvae in sponges i don't use the sponge. The pet store told me too but it doesn't absorb any water. So I just use the water bowl.

07-02-2008, 07:04 PM	#10 (permalink)
bluconspiracy Hi, I'm New Here! Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 21	Re: larvae in sponges Well I change my sponges out once a week. I take one out and boil it than let it air dry. I just rotate them like that. I haven't had my hermit crabs long enough to know when to throw them out all together though... __________________ 3 Tiny- Squishy, Lilly and Shelly 3 Small- Alex , Squidy and Double A 1 English Bulldog- Mya 1 Turtle-Franklin

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