Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey all,
I just went to feed my two snapping turtles, and when I got up close to my largest aquarium to bug my baby, I noticed tiny little larval worm things swimming around in the water. They look like little swimming pieces of white dust, about 1/8 of an inch long or maybe a tiny longer, and no thicker than a piece of dust. I've read in the forums about them before, but can't find the post. I think they are harmless larva from something, I keep their window open to get fresh air into the room.
What should I do?
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Coastal Carpet Python 0.1 (Lillith)
Albino Burm 0.1 (Kimba RIP 10/23/04)
Columbian RedTail 0.1 (Squishy)
Kenyan Sand Boa 1.0 (Shai'hulud) MIA
Brown Water Snake 0.1 (Fang)
Common Snapping Turtle 1.1 (Sherman and Tiger)
(RIP Abrahms)
RES 1.0 (speedy)
African Rock Python (Mongo) 0.0.1

I think what you're referring to are nematodes (sp) which generally are not harmful.

Yeah I have these things in all my tanks. I have no idea how they get there. Like the previous post, they are not harmful. Many people have them, keep your water clean and circulated and that should keep the numbers down.
Chris
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0.1 Red Eared Slider, 1.0 Common Snapper, 1.0 Bearded Dragon and a 55gal Native Fish Tank with a LM Bass and Pleco.
I use to have a collection of Leopard Geckos that I bred, but have sold them.

The "wormie" things you are describing are most likely Tubificid (Tubiflex) worms, as the eggs of such are often freeze dried into flake and pellet foods and some are known to actually survive the process and hatch within the aquaria.
They are generally harmless and introducing some guppies, or other "feeder" type fish into the aquaria will help control them.

Best regards,

Jeff
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Jeff Snodgres
University of Arkansas
snodgresjeffreys@uams.edu
501.603.1947