How are you doing? I looked in my softshell's tank today and noticed tiny tiny tiny little worms swimming in the water. They were very difficult to see and looked like short hairs. I need to change the water and assess this situation ASAP, but I'm kinda afraid to because I don't know how to dispose of the water and sand. I am afraid of getting parasites. I'm very ingnorant on this subject and need some insight. Thank you so much for your time.
Take care
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worms in water... need help.
copyleftpenguin
Mar 03, 2004 12:40 PM
Replies (3)
JOSTA
Mar 03, 2004 01:43 PM
Go to the hardware store and buy some new sand, usually $4.99 for 50pounds. Dump out everything in the tank and sipose of it. Just start out new. You should get a sample of the worms and take it to your vet and have him look at it and tell you what it is. Let me know if you find out what type of worm it is.
epidemic
Mar 04, 2004 01:11 PM
If you are feeding the turtle any prepared commercial turtle diet and keeping the water relatively warm, I would be willing to bet that what you are identifying are tubiflex worms, a major ingredient with commercially prepared diets. The eggs of such often survive the freeze drying process and often hatch within the tank of the animals being fed.
I have seen this quite often, within the tanks of those who feed their turtle reptamin, and I typically remedy it by adding a few small fish, which will feed on the tubiflex worms and the turtles, in turn, typically feed on the fish.
To put your mind at ease, these are completely harmless to your turtle. I too was in quite a mental state when I first discovered them in my tank.
To be certain, take a sample of your tank water to a knowledgable aquarist or aquarium store and have them take a look.
Jeff Snodgres
Univerity of Arkansas
snodgresjeffreys@uams.edu
501.526.4856
copyleftpenguin
Mar 04, 2004 05:32 PM
Awesome, thank you. They're actually not that kind of worm, but with research I discovered that it is a similar scenario. These worms were tiny and white. But, just to be on the safe side (because I am paranoid), I put on cleaning gloves and pulled everything out of the tank. Afterwards, I put the items in a bucket and filled it with boiling water. Now I am going to pour the tank water into the toilet. I'm a little stuck on what I should so with that sand. I'll probably just scoop it out and throw it away. I've got my turtle in another tank for now (with no substrate) so that I may observe her for the next couple of days. If there is still an issue, I'll be taking her to the vet. Thanks again for your help (the both of you!).
Take care,
Tony
