Odd Worm-like creatures in Tank

[kalliamaria]

I noticed today things in my tanks that look like small worms. I'm not sure where they are coming from, but I wondered if they are harmful to my frogs, and if I should try to get them out. Also at what age do male frogs start calling? At this point are they sexually mature?

[Cindy Dicken]

Are the worms you are seeing white in color, approx 1/2-1", and have a pointed end, and usualy find them crawling up the glass?

As for what age males start to call it depends on the species.

[kalliamaria]

Yes that is exactly what they look like. What are they?

My Leucs are calling now. Or at least one of them so far.

[Cindy Dicken]

Sounds like nematodes. They are a soil insect.Some frogs will eat them, some will not. I don't really know of an easy way to get rid of them, other than wiping them off of the glass as you find them, and letting the tank dry slightly. We have them in a couple of our tanks, I haven't noticed any problems they have caused.

[cbreon]

It is impossibe to get rid of them as far as I know. I had a couple of well planted tanks and spent a lot of time, wasted time, trying to kill them whenever I saw them. If you're really determined to get rid of them take your frogs out and try completely drying the tanks for several weeks or restart a new tank and wash the plants you wish to reuse, in a light bleach solution (5-10%).

[Patricia Slayton]

There is no reason to get rid of them. They occur in almost all newly set up tanks, and even later on. Just wipe them off the glass if the sight of them bothers you, and forget about it. There may be several different things they could be, and they do look like strongyles or some other kind of nematode, but what you see are not harmful parasites for your frogs.

[kalliamaria]

Thanks for the help. I just worry about these wonderful creatures and wouldnt want anything to harm them.

[zaroba]

i had seen similer thing in my viv a while back shortly after setting it up. it was red, about a half inch long, pointed at one end, rounded at the otehr, and was crawling on the glass pointed end first.

thier was only the one and i only saw it for a few days, then haden't seen it since. i was just thinking it was just a baby earthworm so diden't worry about it at all.

could it have also been a harmless nematode?

[955i]

i had seen similer thing in my viv a while back shortly after setting it up. it was red, about a half inch long, pointed at one end, rounded at the otehr, and was crawling on the glass pointed end first.

thier was only the one and i only saw it for a few days, then haden't seen it since. i was just thinking it was just a baby earthworm so diden't worry about it at all.

could it have also been a harmless nematode?

From your description, that sounds more like some type of leech.