Ghost Shrimp Parasite

I had 7 ghost shrimp in my 5.5 gallon tank that I bought about 2 weeks ago. This is my first time keeping shrimp, but I noticed one had a white string inside it. I didn’t know what it was, so I left it alone. I found it passed away yesterday and the white string was gone. I just found out today that it was actually a horse hair worm! It’s already left the host, and after doing some research I learned that it leaves the host to breed. I have other shrimp in the tank and I have no idea how to get rid of all the worms and possible babies before it’s too late. I want to add a betta into this tank eventually, but I want to treat the tank and my shrimp first. I looked around the tank and can’t seem to find any worm. What should I do?

 

I personally don't know much but this thread has some good info on using iodine to treat them- Horsehair worms in ghost shrimp!

 

Hi! I have had a similar problem before and have some helpful info if you’re still looking for some?

 

Hi! I have had a similar problem before and have some helpful info if you’re still looking for some?

HI there, right now only one of my ghosties have survived and seems to be doing okay. I'm checking him everyday for the “white string” in him. I have my betta in there with him, they’re doing okay so far. Unfortunately parasite treatments like PraziPro are illegal in my province (I’m in Canada), so I was really in a stump on this one. I did treat the tank with some malachite green, and I don’t see anymore worms. But I’m keeping an eye on it. If you don’t mind, I am still curious about your experience, still horrified of my own experience haha.

 

sl99 Very interesting.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nematomorpha
From reading that, I think the worm will need to find another to breed with?

Here's a Horsehair Worm I found swimming in a local stream last year.

 

I’ll share my experience! I got ghost shrimp from my local pet store without knowing much about them and thought the horsehair worm was the shrimp’s brain. That is, until I woke up the next day and there was a 5 inch worm crawling around in my glass. Absolutely terrifying.

I removed it and chopped it up into a million pieces and burned it because I wanted NOTHING to do with it. Then I did research and figured out it was indeed a horsehair worm. After removing the worm I was afraid that the others would breed (if there were more) so I just kept a close eye on the tank and never saw another worm. Thankfully my situation was easy because no more showed up. But here is what I learned about them...

They hatch and only infect invertebrates, mostly crickets. They live inside the host’s body until they are fully grown and ready to breed. Then they (literally— it’s horrifying) burst out of their host and breed by tangling together in what looks like a knot of hair. Then after breeding they almost immediately die and the cycle starts over.

Thankfully, though, they are unable to affect vertebrates (so your fish is fine) and can only multiply if they have another worm to breed with.

 

Thankfully, though, they are unable to affect vertebrates (so your fish is fine) and can only multiply if they have another worm to breed with.

If anything, a betta will probably see the worm as a nice tasty meal.

 

I’ll share my experience! I got ghost shrimp from my local pet store without knowing much about them and thought the horsehair worm was the shrimp’s brain. That is, until I woke up the next day and there was a 5 inch worm crawling around in my glass. Absolutely terrifying.

I removed it and chopped it up into a million pieces and burned it because I wanted NOTHING to do with it. Then I did research and figured out it was indeed a horsehair worm. After removing the worm I was afraid that the others would breed (if there were more) so I just kept a close eye on the tank and never saw another worm. Thankfully my situation was easy because no more showed up. But here is what I learned about them...

They hatch and only infect invertebrates, mostly crickets. They live inside the host’s body until they are fully grown and ready to breed. Then they (literally— it’s horrifying) burst out of their host and breed by tangling together in what looks like a knot of hair. Then after breeding they almost immediately die and the cycle starts over.

Thankfully, though, they are unable to affect vertebrates (so your fish is fine) and can only multiply if they have another worm to breed with.

You BURNED IT! I find that funny, I honestly would probably do the same if I ever see one. Thanks for sharing, it’s reassuring to know they need another worm to multiply. I did see tiny little worms floating around in my tank before, maybe they were something else but I haven’t seen them since I added my betta after treating the tank with malachite green.

If anything, a betta will probably see the worm as a nice tasty meal.

Probably because of this, he ate them all.

In this case, since my shrimp is still doing okay, I may want to get some more shrimp to give him company.

 

You BURNED IT! I find that funny, I honestly would probably do the same if I ever see one. Thanks for sharing, it’s reassuring to know they need another worm to multiply. I did see tiny little worms floating around in my tank before, maybe they were something else but I haven’t seen them since I added my betta after treating the tank with malachite green.

Probably because of this, he ate them all.

In this case, since my shrimp is still doing okay, I may want to get some more shrimp to give him company.

Haha! Yep! I couldn’t think of another way to kill it, because I wasn’t sure if the chopped up pieces would form new worms or not. And if I tried to dry it I wasn’t sure if that would kill it either.

It is likely that the small floating worms were detritus worms, don’t worry about them. They just live in the gravel and on the glass and help break down the poop for you. I’m sure your betta/shrimp munch on them as well

 

Haha! Yep! I couldn’t think of another way to kill it, because I wasn’t sure if the chopped up pieces would form new worms or not. And if I tried to dry it I wasn’t sure if that would kill it either.

It is likely that the small floating worms were detritus worms, don’t worry about them. They just live in the gravel and on the glass and help break down the poop for you. I’m sure your betta/shrimp munch on them as well

Every now and then I'll see one or two little stringy things. Detritus worms are a completely acceptable part of the tank ecosystem. They only become a problem when you overfeed and leave excess rotting food