Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've just noticed that after the lights go out in my Azureus tank that a worm of some sort starts crawling up the sides of my tank. About 1/2" in length, very slim, the color of an earthworm, moves in "S" similar to a snake with the front waving back and forth in the air like it's searching for something to attack or attatch to. Very soft bodied. I haven't seen them go near a frog or be on the frog. At first I though it may be some sort of leach. I think they were introduced when I purchased a Broomelaid locally and put it in the tank. I'm going to isolate the frog from the enviroment but need help identifying what the worm may be and how to treat the tank without completly dismantling the tank if possible. The tank has cocos panels, false bottom with gravel and is heavily planted. Any suggestion??

Why not just remove the worm next time it comes out and then see if you can ID it?

Actually there are many of them. I kill them on site but they must be breeding. I've combed the net for something that looks sililar but couldn't find anything. I need an ID and treatment.

You probably have Grindal/Grindle Worms. They are a composting animal like springtails, and a pest to growers of tropical plants. However, fish keepers culture them to feed tropical fish, and they can be fed to frogs with no problem. I'll bet it's not a parasite, but a Grindal Worm. If you're worried, get a fecal sample done by a local vet.
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Homer W. Faucett III, esq.
Purveyor of Trivialities and Fine Nonsense

It may not be a parasite-but it's not white but the color of an earth worm. Last night I took the forg out of the tank and drained then filled tank/false bottom up with hot water to kill any in the gravel and didn't see one last night. Will repeat if I do.

This sounds like a nematode. They eat fruit flys and come in on plants or field collected wood. I have them in a few of my tanks and never have been able to get rid of them. If you mist real heavy after the lights go out they usually come out. I have been told by numerous sources that they are harmless and I personally haven't had any problems from them. I just smoosh them with a paper towel when I see them out.

Tom,

If they're 1/2 inch long, they probably aren't nematodes. Nematodes are usually microscopic. Grindle worms, in my experience, aren't white, but a gray/brown but photograph a lighter color because they are so small. White worms (similar) are more of a white color. I still think that's what you have. They are very common in soils and come in on plants.
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Homer W. Faucett III, esq.
Purveyor of Trivialities and Fine Nonsense

Another possibility is dwarf redworms. They look exactly like very very small earthworms. If I had a colony of those in my terrarium, I'd do everything I could to keep them going instead of trying to kill them.
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Homer W. Faucett III, esq.
Purveyor of Trivialities and Fine Nonsense

Thanks for the responses. After cleaning the gravel with hot water they still came back last night. Reminds me of a mini leech they way the front of it swings back and forth like it's searching for a host.

Most all of the worms and such that show up in our vivariums, especially with a new set-up, are totally harmless, whether they appear to be looking for something to attack or not. If they are doing this and you can see them, they are unlikely to be a parasite upon your frogs. They'll cycle out and disappear in time. In any event, they are not a threat to the frog welfare, but may even be a part of the biological process.
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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
5 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
5 D. imitator
6 D. leucomelas
4 D. pumilio Bastimentos
4 D. fantasticus
4 P. terribilis
4 D. reticulatus

i dont know how this affects plants or frogs, but you should be able to get a copper fish treatment (Had-A-Snail) for killing snails. I've used it on leaches before in my turtle tank, but I'm not sure if it will work on worms.

Anything that will kill the slugs, snails, free-living worms and insects in a terrarium may kill your frogs. Copper is especially toxic to frogs. Fish remedies are meant for fish.
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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
5 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
5 D. imitator
6 D. leucomelas
4 D. pumilio Bastimentos
4 D. fantasticus
4 P. terribilis
4 D. reticulatus
4 D. castaneoticus

Do you realize if the worms you are seeing were endoparasites then you would see them only in the fecal matter and closly surronding area. It sounds like you have a extra food source for your frogs.

The worm you have identified is called a nemertean. They are a beneficial part of a poison frog tank, and should not be destroyed - They act in the same fashion as spring tails, in that they process dead and decaying matter that can be used by the plants to grow, and in turn produce extra oxygen for the tank.

Poison frog tanks, contrary to popular belief, SHOULD have thousands of little pests in the soil, on the plants, in the water. Neutral soil, and all that is a bad thing.

Leave the nemerteans alone, they will help greatly with the grow in period of the tank, which by the way, you will now have to start over with because of the hot water treatment.

John and Jennifer Gibeau
www.tincs.com

Do you guys have a photo or illustration of a nenertean that can be posted so I can make sure? I couldn't find one on the net.

Send me an e-mail and I will reply with a photo I just took of a nemertean that I removed from one of my tanks.

Wow, John, I didn't realize that there were Nemertean species that inhabited freshwater soil, I only knew about the flashy saltwater ones. I guess you learn something new everyday. Thanks.
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Homer W. Faucett III, esq.
Purveyor of Trivialities and Fine Nonsense

Without seeing it, I guessing it is a nematode. I get many of these “wormlike” animals in my tropical vivariums. Although there are some parasitic nematodes, the ones you have most likely are feeding on the soil or your plants. Since there is about 20,000 species of nematodes you will need a good microscope to key it out. Here is an excellent website on nematodes.

http://nematode.unl.edu/

Good luck.