Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, this may sound very strange but here my story.....

I turned off my filter 2 days ago because it was making weird noises and I was planning to fix it this weekend. I went up there today to my bedroom to clean all my cages when I noticed these long, slender white worms, about half and inch long and there were like 40 of them squirming along the front of my cage. I haven't inspected the rest of my cage because I rushed downstairs to post this message. Now I'm no idiot with reptiles. I've had longer periods of time without a filter and nothing like this has ever happened. The cage is not even really dirty at all!!!!! HELP!!!!!

J.L.

Regardless of what the worms are, I am no expert in what kind of worms could be associated with RES, but I would get your animal to the vet asap. However the worms got in the tank/filter, there is a BIG possibility that your RES has injested one!

Oh, and get a fecal for your RES (you will have to drydock them in a rubbermaid or an enclosure of some sort) and bring it in to the vets. ANY vet whether they are a herpvet or not, is able to test a fecal for worms and parasites. Having the fecal with you is crucial for a timely and inexpensive diagnosis.

as far as i have heard... (though im not speaking from experience) these worms are just from the media of the filter. i am pretty sure that someone said these worms are NOT harmful to your turtle, their main purpose is to clean the tank.

also, i have heard that you cannot get rid of these worms, whatever you do! people have said that they have cleaned out their tanks with clorox and everything, and these worms always seem to find their way back.

i hope this helps and i hope that someone else who has had experience with these worms can give you more help!
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~ Evie

Pets:
RIP 0.1.0 German Shepherd {Dusty}
0.1.0 German Shepherd/Collie mix {Shadoe}
0.0.2 RES turtles {Booger & Snot}
1.0.0 African Clawed Frog {Bingo}
0.0.2 Snail {Gary & Larry}

Believe me I've tried everything. These worms are some kind of protozoa. I've completely cleaned my tank put in new rocks and everything and they come back. About a month ago I put 4 mullets (large fishing minnows) in the tank because they were lift from a day of my hubby and I going fishing and I thought they would be a good snack for the RES's. Well they chased the mullets for a while and when they couldn't catch them they gave up. Well I left the mullets in there and I noticed I didn't have anymore worms! So maybe if you can get a few fish that the RES's dont eat that may help. I know they look nasty but they don't hurt anything. I've had my RES's for 2 years and the worms for the majority of that time and they are healthy. Good luck

Thanks, when I first saw them, I freaked out because right after one of my White's tree frogs died, I noticed little worms in his cage, and I thought when I saw the turtles' worms "Oh no, not again!!!". Thankfully, it's nothing serious!!!!!!!! Thanks for all your replies!!!

J.L.