Tips for using hypoaspis mites

[slimeaddict]

Hi guys,

I've just placed an order for 10000 hypoaspis and am hoping to blitz my snails once and for all, although the mites seem to crawl on the tank and not the snails, there has to be a colony inside the snails reinfecting the tank.

I've tried bathing the snails and soaking the tank in boiling water but somehow they always seem to become reinfected!! Nightmare! Anyhow.. Those of you that have used them before... do you have any person tips for their use? I've read the mites page but wondered if there was anything new that people can suggest?

How successful have people found them to be? how long following their application should the tank be left before cleaning (i.e how long will it take for the mites to be munched?) I've been trying out capillary matting - will this hamper the mites in their job/shorten their lifespan?

So many questions!! Thanks in advance for your thoughts...

Adam

[Paul]

I've found them to be 100% successful when used as a curative. The harmful mites will be severely reduced in a matter of days but I would leave them in for a few weeks before cleaning. When you do clean you'll not get rid of all the Hypoaspis but the dent in their population would limit their efficacy as a curative.

As for capillary matting, I have no idea. I'd be tempted to add a thin layer of soil for them, less than 1 inch deep. This means they can move right through it and able to get hidden pests.