Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

Budsteam · Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2006 10:20 am Post subject: 'Worms' in water

Went to change scooter's water last night and noticed several beige coloured 'worms' in the bowl! Shocked

- Pic attached
Scooter is WC black zebra so thinking a parasite but how come it's only just manifest itself? I've had him for 3 months now.
Any idea what they are, are they harmful, how can I get rid of them?
Water is changed daily so these have appeared in last 24 hours and never seen anything like it before with scooter or any of our other Ts.
Thanks for any help

ruthx

Rickeezee · Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2006 10:23 am Post subject:

You got a close up shot of wormies? Mealies allways seem to end up in water bowls.
_________________
www.rickslivefood.co.uk

Budsteam · Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2006 10:53 am Post subject:

He has never had any worms only crickets, could they have come from the substrate or been harbouring in the tank? When we moved the bird eater to bigger exo terra home I put scooter in big birds old home - but after washing it and spraying with 'Bea' disinfectant
I used scooter's old substrate as it was fairly new and thought this would minimise changes for him. I did top it up but with freshly made substrate.

They do look like tiny mealies but even big bird was only ever given crics, hoppers and waxies, - could some waxies have escaped the clean, I gave the tank a pretty good blast.
Scooter is fine in himself, has not shed since I had him but is not a babe so nothing unusual there. mmmmmmmmmmm Confused

Rickeezee · Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2006 10:56 am Post subject:

Whatever they are I bet they were in the substrate as you suggest, doubt if after tank cleaning they would be from that.
_________________
www.rickslivefood.co.uk

Peter Parrot · Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2006 11:30 am Post subject:

From what I can tell I would agree with Rick. Any chance of a close up? Smile

_________________
YSBRYDOLI POBL, GWELLA LLEOEDD
INSPIRING PEOPLE, IMPROVING PLACES
www.btcv.org
Visit our website - Gwelwch ein Gwefan
www.btcvcymru.org
Llinell Gymorth / Helpline: 08702 40 48 41

Budsteam · Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2006 11:37 am Post subject:

Will have to wait for scooter to paddle in his water again as I flushed them down the loo Embarassed

Shall I change the substrate, poor Scooty only moved house 3 weeks ago, will disruption be OK?

Peter Parrot · Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2006 11:43 am Post subject:

I am not sure that (if they are mealworms) whether they would pose any danger to the spider. Perhaps when he has freshly moulted and vulnerable? I am not sure to be honest. Various types of mealworms can be harboured in substrate definately. The coco blocks that you soak in water are good as they are pretty much sterile when you get them. Wink

_________________
YSBRYDOLI POBL, GWELLA LLEOEDD
INSPIRING PEOPLE, IMPROVING PLACES
www.btcv.org
Visit our website - Gwelwch ein Gwefan
www.btcvcymru.org
Llinell Gymorth / Helpline: 08702 40 48 41

Insectsunlimited · Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 1:49 am Post subject: foreign bodies

Hi, Dave here & I reckon they are those little beetles (about 5 to 8mm long & chestnut brown), the larva of which, resembles a small mealworm. You can tell because they are a lot quicker than mealworms (when they are not drowned in the drinker) & max are only 1/2 the size. Someone help??? they are the ones that some cricket & locust breeders put in to eat all the dead bodies but I can`t for the life of me remember their latin name. They were mentioned on a thread on this site sometime last year. Regards... Dave.
_________________
Dave Messer @ Insectsunlimited.

It may be the early bird that gets the worm but it`s the 2nd mouse that gets the cheese.