Eeek! worm!!!

Ok so I was watching my snails and found this worm crawling on the side of the tank!

Few days ago one of my Ramshorn snail died. I couldn't figure out y n guess may b the crabs ate it... then tonight, I found this thing.

Do u think the worm was living inside that snail and eventually caused its life?

My snails live their whole life in their snail tank, without fishies, and I only put the crabs in a week ago bcoz the crab tank was used as a hospital tank for my fishies.

Where does the worm come from?

Another picture

Ewwwww

thats like 0.5 of a millimetre, weird, I have never seen one of those,dosent look like a blood worm or anything you would feed fish huh, and like you said.. you only keep snails in the tank, hmmm well.. I must say it looks like a baby leach!! but I wouldnt have a clue, I shall do some research in my excellent bookie I have been reading and get back to you if I find anything.



Starry^

Hi Feline,

Looks like it could be a planarian. Kind of hard to tell but the pic. Maybe you could describe it? Is it segmented (like an earthworm), does it have a distinct head region, a mouth (sucker type), does it have bristles? Kind of looks slug like, which is why I said it could be a planarian. Most of these large type critters are non-parasitic and are usually brought in with live foods or plants.

Looks like a leech to me. Um, Feline....please tell me you don't put your contacts in those holders anymore.

Valerie

Yeah it's as elastic as leeches but I guess leeches r black in colour? The one I have is dark brown, with a little bit red on the head part.

It's not segmented, doesn't have a distinctive head. It's too small to tell if it's got sucker mouth. The whole body's smooth, with both ends pointed. It crawls fast, like the speed of a snail. And there's a trail left behind just like snails do, coz I saw some dirt sticking to the slim when it crawled by. But it can't go out of water. It'll curl like a ball if it does. And what's interesting about it, is it'll know where to hide (like crawling towards the gravel once in exposed ground on the bottom of the tank) just like it has eyes! Oh and it doesn't have bristles.

I'm not sure what it eats, but after 4 hours in the lens holder, covered, it's still living...

Edit: and Val, I dont want to have worms growing from my eyes so no I won't use the holder anymore LOL!

I don't think it's a leech, as the freshwater sort are longer and thinner than that thing. Take a closer look at it, does it look anything like this? You probably wont be able to see the eye spots unless you use a magnifying glass. These guys are under a light microscope, and that's why they appear somewhat transparent.

That is the most disgusting thing I have ever seen. *shudders*
those beady little eyes. Always watching, judging.


Valerie

Valerie, hope you don't have bad dreams tonight!

You think the planarians look disgusting, I once brought a couple of these guys home on some live plants. CREEPY! Oh by the way, it's called an asellus.

Eeeeeeeeekk!! How can u find this creepy creature in ur plant? Can it b only seen under microscope?

Yeah I've done some search with the planarian n resembles closest to mine, altho I still can't see the triangular head n funny eyes... where would it come from? It's still living in my lens case...

Seeing those pix gross me out! Ew! I just hope i don't have to deal with that!(knock on wood). You better be sure there isn't any more in your tank! If you say they can hide anywhere, I can imagine how well they can hide! As Val says *shudder*

Actually Feline, the asellus is not that small. They're usually around 1.5cm. They are kind of whitish/creamish in colour. How long are you planning on keeping that thing as a pet in your lens case? I'll pull out my invert text tomorrow and see if I can come up with anything else. Is it flat or more rounded?

How long are you planning on keeping that thing as a pet in your lens case?

Click to expand...

LOL! I dont know... just wanna observe it more (it's more of a round shape) and show it to my friends!

Will ur fishies see the asellus as food?

i think that is a flat worm, they come in with live foods or plants and fishes.....if you buy a whole bag of black worms, you'll see couple of those in with them...