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Worms
Dec 31, 2005 13:03:08 GMT
Post by sezzy5889 on Dec 31, 2005 13:03:08 GMT
no they cank climb glass but maye plastic although they are unlikely to
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Worms
Dec 31, 2005 13:05:25 GMT
Post by sophie on Dec 31, 2005 13:05:25 GMT
cank? maye? ROFL sorry. but my snail tank IS plastic
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Worms
Dec 31, 2005 13:08:32 GMT
Post by sezzy5889 on Dec 31, 2005 13:08:32 GMT
Oops lol, typing to quickly
'no they can't climb glass but maybe plastic although they are unlikely to' rofl
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gabi
Achatina tincta
Posts: 616
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Worms
Jan 10, 2006 18:26:55 GMT
Post by gabi on Jan 10, 2006 18:26:55 GMT
Found those today in one of my tanks and fit´s perfect to the description Paul gave in his starting-post in this thread. This worms are shiny-through when they are wiggling on the walls of the tank, but I managed to get them alive out of the tank and made some pic`s. On my table they are looking this way: *shudder* I hate those wiggly things:
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Worms
Jan 11, 2006 6:34:19 GMT
Post by Paul on Jan 11, 2006 6:34:19 GMT
Do they just look black because they're on the table? The size fits but the ones I have had are white or clear. They also shrivel up when out of moisture.
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gabi
Achatina tincta
Posts: 616
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Worms
Jan 11, 2006 7:05:36 GMT
Post by gabi on Jan 11, 2006 7:05:36 GMT
Yes, Paul, they are only on a coloured background black and they are wiggling around for a while when they are on a dry place and one seemed to have died after around 10 minutes, the others (bigger ones) got squeezed before.
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Worms
Jan 11, 2006 12:18:09 GMT
Post by section8angel on Jan 11, 2006 12:18:09 GMT
They look like baby earthworms. Cute lol. But I like earthworms, I have too. Our fish love them
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Worms
Jan 11, 2006 16:44:24 GMT
Post by Paul on Jan 11, 2006 16:44:24 GMT
Found some more worms today concentrated in food that is turning again. It looks like it is shimmering with the worms activity. I've changed my mind and I actually think they are grindal worms. Microworms are too small unless there are two types in the tank, and white worms are too big at up to an inch long. Grindal WormsGrindal worms (Enchytraeus buchholzi) are a smaller relative of the whiteworm, but usually only grow to about 1-cm and thus are an ideal size for most rainbowfishes including both adults and larger fry. Grindal worms can be cultured exactly as whiteworms but are a much more adaptable species and have a greater tolerance for warmer temperatures (20-24°C).
Whiteworms are hermaphroditic. Each individual has both male and female reproductive organs. One worm mates with another individual and each fertilise the other. The worms exchange sperm cells during copulation and eggs are laid in transparent cocoons. Each cocoon produced by young adults contains 9-10 eggs, cocoons from mature adults produce 20-25 eggs. As the culture density increases, the reproductive rate levels off and old worms will only produce around 2-3 eggs per cocoon. The highest egg production reported was in the vicinity of 35 eggs per cocoon. Average per total population in culture is 10 eggs per cocoon. The eggs hatch in 12 days, and worms begin reproducing in 20 days. Each individual can produce as many as 1000 eggs over its life span.
If the culture is maintained properly, the worms will gather in mass on the surface of the soil. The worms will often congregate on the glass cover where they can be scraped off and fed to your fish.What do you reckon?
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Worms
Jan 26, 2006 9:09:35 GMT
Post by Paul on Jan 26, 2006 9:09:35 GMT
Found out why they keep coming back. I inspected a few snails under my new magnifying glass. A few snails had tiny, tiny babies swimming on their mantle. I suppose they are bound to come into contact with them, but it explains why they return after a clean out. It is incredibly difficult to get them off because slime is like glue, spraying with water helped to get most of them off but not all. Not all the snails had them either.
Any ideas?
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Worms
Jan 26, 2006 10:15:37 GMT
Post by Paul on Jan 26, 2006 10:15:37 GMT
Just found some evidence that Hypoaspis may eat the worms: 4.1mb www.ceh.ac.uk/sections/epfs/mite_eating_nems.aviI think I have some Hypoaspis in my tanks currently, how they have lasted I will never know but they are not like the normal snail mites. They are large, reddish and look like hypoaspis under magnification. As soon as I can find a mite-infested slug outside I will compare the two. If what I have is likely hypopaspis I will introduce them to the slug-mites and the baby/tiny worms to see what happens. I'll actually be able to see what happens. The plan would be to clean everything, start again with new coir (only a thin layer), clean the snails and swamp the tank with hypoaspis - I'll probably have to buy some more so I have plenty. They sorted out my old mite problem, so with a bit of luck they can finish off whatever remains of the worms. Then, it is easy to remove the predatory mites, a simple clean out will do that or adding a new layer of coir to bury them. Fingers crossed, it may be my only chance to get rid of them.
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Worms
Jan 26, 2006 10:23:41 GMT
Post by sezzy5889 on Jan 26, 2006 10:23:41 GMT
good luck
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Worms
Jan 26, 2006 10:35:35 GMT
Post by Paul on Jan 26, 2006 10:35:35 GMT
ta, it's been one pest after another.... I found some interesting stuff though about how pests get into our homes and tanks. It is quite possible they came from another snail or from food. Mites are well known apparently in grain stores and even on fresh food and baby worms/eggs are so minute they could easily arrive on food also. I've also found out that most borough councils offer free identification services for pests like mites. I've contacted mine, explaining honestly about what I need and that they aren't a domestic problem and they've offered to help me find out what they are. Their offices are about 5 minutes away so I could take samples in easily. I was gonna send some to Morgan but I'd just thrown all the soil away and my 1 sample turned nasty before I had chance to send it. I'm sure she'll still do it, so I'll send some to her also. I just need some sample tubs, film containers.... edit.... just spoke to them on the phone, they are going to try and ID them for me, no charge. So there's an idea for anyone with bugs in your tank.
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Worms
Jan 26, 2006 11:58:46 GMT
Post by sezzy5889 on Jan 26, 2006 11:58:46 GMT
wow cool, hope they can identify them and let us know how we can avoid them
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Worms
Jan 26, 2006 12:39:57 GMT
Post by Paul on Jan 26, 2006 12:39:57 GMT
I think they'll be able to get them ID'd but I'm not expecting much else. If we can find out to genus level we have a real chance of understanding how to prevent or deal with them.
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Ruth
Achatina immaculata
Posts: 204
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Worms
Feb 15, 2006 9:20:44 GMT
Post by Ruth on Feb 15, 2006 9:20:44 GMT
Did you ever get a formal ID for these little critters? Last night i noticed them (exactly how you described) actually on my snails (only a couple around their breathing hole). I panicked so am kinda relieved to find this post .
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Worms
Feb 15, 2006 15:41:28 GMT
Post by Paul on Feb 15, 2006 15:41:28 GMT
Not yet, I've not been able to take them in coz I've started a new job and I'm out for most of the day, and also the worms on the snails are absolutely microscopic so I don't know how to take them in. I've just ordered some Hypoaspis miles to see if they will eat the damn things. I'm not sure if what you have seen are related, I have seen worms large enough to see with the eye, and tiny, tiny ones you've no chance without a magifying glass. Even at 20x these things are tiny. I think there are possibly 2 types. I do still intend to take some samples in (somehow) but I need to do it when I get a day off.
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Worms
Feb 26, 2006 12:10:47 GMT
Post by Kelly on Feb 26, 2006 12:10:47 GMT
Hi Paul
(You may remember that I emailed you).
What are hook worms, are these dangerous.
Many thanks.
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Worms
Feb 26, 2006 12:21:38 GMT
Post by Kelly on Feb 26, 2006 12:21:38 GMT
Hi,
Those little worms on the video are exactly the same as mine. I contaced the man I got my snails from and he said that they are really common and are in fact friut fly worms which will eventually turn into flies. I don't think this is true, I think he's trying to fob me off. However, this may explain why they are attracted to the food and having read on a site that generally when you buy salad, a lot of these larve are attached even ofter washing.
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Worms
Feb 26, 2006 13:44:53 GMT
Post by Paul on Feb 26, 2006 13:44:53 GMT
He is trying to fob you off. Fly larvae are maggots, definitely not worms: www.petsnails.co.uk/index.php?action=problems&type=flies#startAs for hook worms, they are a type of intestinal worm, not nice at all. They are called hook worms because they hook themselves to the bowels and they are probably the worst type possible since they can burrow through skin. I'm pretty sure none of the worms described are these.
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Worms
Feb 26, 2006 14:15:00 GMT
Post by Kelly on Feb 26, 2006 14:15:00 GMT
I have just disinfected all there tank and logs etc and found some feaces with the worms in. Hoever, when they had a poo in there little box when cleaned them out there was no worms in there. I tried to keep the worms but they were dead by time I had cleaned the tank out and virtually impossible to see!
Can humans get those hook worms? eeeeeeee
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Worms
Feb 26, 2006 15:40:31 GMT
Post by Roger on Feb 26, 2006 15:40:31 GMT
I have some of these in my tank, and have noticed the odd one crawling over one of my snails.
They are small (mm's) and seem to be translucent.
Any ideas, and should i be worried at all??
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Worms
Feb 26, 2006 17:06:09 GMT
Post by Kelly on Feb 26, 2006 17:06:09 GMT
Sound the same as mine. They are literally 1 cm maximum.
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Worms
Feb 26, 2006 17:21:06 GMT
Post by Paul on Feb 26, 2006 17:21:06 GMT
I can't give any advice without knowing what they are.
Internal worms could be harmful to humans, so if you think they are these, wear gloves whilst cleaning them out and be extra careful. Most internal worms basically suck blood from the host to survive.
If you find them eating food, they could well be a harmless, external type that just eat detritus. Harmless to both humans and snails.
The other type are nematodes, some are harmful to snails, some aren't. They are harmless to humans.
It is likely that they are nematodes or grindal worms so they pose the least risk to us. I'd suggest vigorous cleaning, including the snails' bodies where they are likely to hide, causing them to come back after your tank has been cleaned out. If they persist, I would suggest taking a sample to your local council pest department, where they will get them identified for free.
Until we know what they are, I can't advise. Internal worms can be treated with a vermifuge (see earlier), and nematodes can be destroyed with Hypoaspis predatory mites.
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LisaLQ
Archachatina papyracea
Old friend (emphasis on the "old")
Posts: 2,995
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Worms
Mar 24, 2006 14:54:44 GMT
Post by LisaLQ on Mar 24, 2006 14:54:44 GMT
Bleurgh. Just found some worms on the big margies. Small, see through, only in their slime. I am 100% certain that they're a new occurence as they get a throrough checking over by me regularly because of having that one singular mite on Gary (who's in another tank but I'm paranoid).
Could these be airborn? Or come in on the moss? I did micro their moss though, the only new things that have gone in are food and capillary matting.
They were only on their slime, just below their mantle as they come out.
Do I have to worry about them (with my kids etc) or are they harmless?
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Worms
Mar 24, 2006 16:52:12 GMT
Post by section8angel on Mar 24, 2006 16:52:12 GMT
I'd try and stop the kids doing anything with them just in case. And of course you be careful too. You know the routine from Gary, so it's clean clean and clean again lol
Can you get any pics of them?
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