Reptile & Amphibian Forums

im having a problem with some type of worms or somthing that is really really tiny and swims around the sides of my tank. i change my water frequently but they keep coming back in like a week or two. are they harmful to my turtles? is there anything i could put in the tank to get rid of them? please help!

If the turtles are about 4 inches, and youve had them for a while, (like you have watched them grow to about that size) then you could have a problem with parasites. I dont know too much about it, but I do know that most turtles have them, but when they reach the legal size, (4 inches), they loose them. Maybe you should examine the turtles tails where they poop and see if something is weird. Often a turtle owner will go to the tank see a worm or several and flip out, thats all I know about worms and parasites. I dont know any remedies, i would go to the vet.

If it isnt parasites, then i guess there probably is a way to get rid of worms, but i do not not know how.

Um, no there is no magic loosing of parasites once a turtle reaches a certain size. They can always have them. However, it sounds like what you are describing is a harmless worm that is nearly impossible to get rid off, but as I said, it won't hurt anything either. I think they come with fish.
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Well before you can decide if these are parasitic or not you need to identify them.
color and size are a good start but eventually if you are worried a vet will have to do a fecal. There are many kinds of worm-shaped animals that might easily be found in an aquarium. Some are detrimental to turtles, others are not. changing the water may help (the more water canges you do the better anyway unless you tank in huge and so you have decent biofiltration) but many worm type animals lay eggs or cysts or soild objects and may be able to with stand short periods of drought. Some will live and reproduce with the help of your turtle's body.

Try to save some turtle poop (in maybe a ziploc bag) and make a vet appointment (find a REPTILE vet). "De-wormers" are available (though they are sometimes tricky to apply to water turtles) and there are medications you can add to the water which will safely remove some parasites as well.

I dont know who you are or where you get your info., but understand that I was merely stating that it is possibly parasites, but it could not be. MANY TURTLES LOOSE PARASITES AT 4 INCHES, look into it.

That is blantenly ridiculous, what are you 10 years old? How could a turtle just loose its parasites just because of its size?
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"Blatenly Ridiculous"......okay DESIGN GIRL, its b-l-a-t-a-n-t-l-y....you are obviously very hard-headed and ignorant, dare I say stupid, but you do really need to get your facts straight.
sincerely,
10 year old genius

If their tiny little white worms that you can hardly see unless looking very close, they are a type of maggot that feeds off of your decaying turtle food. Try add a goldfish or two, they love them.

yea.. these little guys are tiny little white worms that you gotta look closely but not jus a few.. ive seen it a few times that covers up the whole sides of the tank.. i was jus horrified.. but then after a day it goes away and then a few comes back.. well i guess i have an idea of what to tell the vet thanks for the help you guys!!