How to get rid of Hermit Crab mites?

My hermit crab came out of shell and I just discovered mites?

• My hermit crab came out of his shell some time yesterday and did not go back into his shell until this morning but I also discovered mites, I have read to clean habitat for mites and bathe crab but he is really light pink and I don't think he molted, can I bathe him or will it stress him out right now?

• Answer:

  Sadly when it comes to mites you kind of have to stress the crabs out a bit. It's better than what could happen if the mites are left in, as mites will in fact kill the crabs. Your habitat should be completly stipped and everything should either be baked on high for 10 minutes, wished with mild soap and water (and than rinsed off with dechloriated water), boiled in salt water, or tossed out. The substrate can either be baked in the oven so you can reuse it or tossed out. The wood can be baked too, shells and rocks should be boiled in salt water, and anything plastic as well as the dishes should be washed by hand. Before your crab goes back in he should be in a shell and might free, if this requires bathing him in salt water than it has to happen, just try to make it as unstressful as possible and make sure the tank is dark and calm, and don't handle him for at least a few days after he gets a shell back on and returns to normal. A more detailed run down of exactly what needs to happen can be answered by the members of landhermitcrabs.com, plus than you can ask more detailed questions and get answered by the same people.