Blooming Doom
Arachnopeon
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2018
- Messages
- 13
This is looking to be the biggest mistake of my life. I was looking for bait worms to feed my pac man frog, and purchased the normal ones you’d find in a freezer.
A few weeks pass, and at the time of this post, 3 species in my collection have succumb to full blown nematode infections. Palps not working, not accepting food, and the giant pulsating white mass of worms foaming from their mouths. I immediately moved them into the freezer to try and put a stop to the spread. I had no idea where they were coming from or how this started since I have added nothing new to my collection in a few months. Except for the worms.
I had the idea to take soil samples from my dubia feeder bin, the worms, and several other enclosures that I was worried about for analysis under my microscope. The sample from the earthworm tub was absolutely wriggling with microscopic nematodes. Luckily I found no traces of them in my dubia colony sample.
The earthworms were immediately disposed of and determined to be the source. I feel some relief for finding what started this, but I’m still fearful that it is too late.
Tldr; Walmart sells earthworms mixed with nematodes and now my tarantulas are becoming infected. And I’m an idiot for buying anything from walmart
A few weeks pass, and at the time of this post, 3 species in my collection have succumb to full blown nematode infections. Palps not working, not accepting food, and the giant pulsating white mass of worms foaming from their mouths. I immediately moved them into the freezer to try and put a stop to the spread. I had no idea where they were coming from or how this started since I have added nothing new to my collection in a few months. Except for the worms.
I had the idea to take soil samples from my dubia feeder bin, the worms, and several other enclosures that I was worried about for analysis under my microscope. The sample from the earthworm tub was absolutely wriggling with microscopic nematodes. Luckily I found no traces of them in my dubia colony sample.
The earthworms were immediately disposed of and determined to be the source. I feel some relief for finding what started this, but I’m still fearful that it is too late.
Tldr; Walmart sells earthworms mixed with nematodes and now my tarantulas are becoming infected. And I’m an idiot for buying anything from walmart