Nematodes (worms)

[gabi]

Hi!

Discovered a few week ago in all the tanks, I had put in new plants (all from the same company) extremely large nematode-like looking worms. BUT those are large, extremely large. They are around 2mm diameter and the largest are now aroun 3cm long (extended and wiggling around). First I tried to kill them by squeezing them BUT then the head moves around on its own and the tail too.
They are too crawling around on the snails, but the snails seem not to be uncomfortable with them (but I don´t like to see them) AND since those worms are in those 4 tanks there have never again appeared any springtails anymore in the tanks (what would be kind of benefit).

So, could this be a kind of predatory nematodes, that can be bought at shops for killing larves or insects in and on plants? maybe those new ferns have been threated with those nematodes?

Anyone ever noticed this ugly looking large worms?

Anybody knowing, if those can do any harm to the snails? If they are harmful, how can I get them out of the tanks? Keeping the snails only in a bare glass-tank for 3 weeks (edit to add: and showering twice a day, daily new food, removing faces....), hasn´t removed them, they are still appearing. But as i said, the snails are acting like always and showing no signs of sickness or uncomfortable.

Could those predatory mites kill those worms, or would the mites be killed by those worms? Totally curious now. The only thing I do know is, that I want to get rid of this worms as my eyes hate to see those ugly, wiggling thingies.

Kind regards,

Gabi

[Val]

Hi gabi,
Well I can't help with your worms but it is GREAT to see you on here again!!!

Val

[Arno]

Hello Gabi,maybe it is possible to contact the company where you bought your plants from to see if they know anything about this or they could ask the plant grower.

[Paul]

Hi Gabi, welcome back!

Are you sure they are nematodes, ie. non-segmented bodies?

There are a number of worms such as grindal worms that look like nematodes, in that they are white and small, but in fact have segmented bodies. Tanks are perfect environments for them and they are harmless.

Try and have a look as close as you can, to see if you can see any segments. It'll help determine what they are and what risk they pose.

Perhaps the springtails have been reduced because of competition for food. I found that an increase in springtail and earthworm populations seem to deter nematodes and I can think of no other reason than competition. Also, introducing earthworms to my tanks reduced springtail numbers for the same reason.

[gabi]

Thanks all for the nice wellcome-back! ;D

They are really Grindalworms! I don´t like them, but as much as I have figured now, I cannot get rid off them really, but they should not harm the snails at all.

I am having in all my tanks (only with the Limicolarias not - they have gotten very irritated by them) earthworms. There needs to be really a huge amount of earthwarms, but they are really effectiv. I had them in my puylaerti tank in an extremely large amount and I hadn´t needed to exchange the substrate in there for more than a year and have seen any bugs in there.

Thanks once again for being such an effectiv help, Paul!

Arno, unfortunately I bought the plants on the large market and i haven´t seen the seller the last times I was there (always going to this market on a regular basis to buy eukalyptus for my Eurycnema and Extatosoma).

off topic: Unfortunately I am still not really back, health issues of myself have gone better the last weeks but will need some more weeks until back to normal. The worst thing for me currently is, that I had and have to get rid of some snail-species to be able to cope with their needs. But don´t worry, I never would be able to live without any snails...Just talking here from cutting down too around 20 tanks instead of 40...

Kind regards,

Gabi