Urgent Care :: Worms in poop.

[Tucker Allen]

How big is your turtle? 4.5 inches long
How long have you had it? 4 weeks

What is the water temperature? 75 degrees
Did you use a thermometer? Yes
Are you using a water heater? Yes
How much water is in there? 15 gallons or more (20 gallon tank)
Are you using a water conditioner? Yes - Aquasafe by Tetra
Are you using any filtration? Yes - Internal hanging filter by Tetra

What is the basking temperature? 85 degrees
Is there a basking light? Yes
Is there a basking platform that is easy to climb on? Yes - on it this morning
What kind is it or what is it made out of? Zoomed basking dock - made out of foam
Is there a UVB light? yes

What have you been trying to feed it? Reptomin every other day, veggies every day - doesn't eat the veggies really though
When was the last time your turtle ate? an hour ago. he ate his pellets

How big is the tank/pond/enclosure? 20 gallons
Is the tank near a window? yes, with shades closed
Is the tank in a room with a lot of activity? no

Have you read the Basic Care section? Yes
Have you searched the forums for similar situations? Yes

Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms? No

What I am writing about is parasitic worms. I have noticed the last few poops in his tank have a white string in them. Not sure what to do about it. They don't seem to be moving or alive. Tucker doesn't seem to be affected behaviorally or anything. His appetite is still the same. I've read other websites and now I'm worried that I might get them. I keep the tank really clean and I don't want to contract the worms by ingesting their microscopic eggs. I wash my hands and arms after I'm done, but it still makes me worry. I've attached a picture. Hopefully someone can help me determine if it really is a worm or not. I hope it's not, but it really looks like one. I will take him to the vet, but I was hoping that there would be a different solution to this problem. Please help!

[happycamper]

Ew... bummer!

I think a vet is really your only option at this point

[marisa]

Get a stool sample and take it to the vet to be analyzed. Then you'll know for sure what it is and, if it is parasites, you can the appropriate treatment for them.

[steve]

I agree with the above posts, good luck!

[Tucker Allen]

So I got Tucker into the vet today! It was a good experience, besides the wait. I brought in a sample of his poop with the "worm" and told the vet about it. He looked at it under a microscope concluded that it was a worm. He prescribed Panacur. It's in a liquid form in a syringe. He said I should try to mix it with something to make him take it because squirting it into his mouth probably wouldn't work. So, while he was telling me this, I asked for a needle for the syringe. (This is where I got proud of myself!) I said he eats earthworms like nobody's business and that maybe I could inject the worm with the medicine so he would get the good stuff. He thought it would work, and it did! Poor worm though. hahaha! He gobbled that worm with the medicine up really quick. He gets another two doses two weeks apart, and that's good because I give him a worm every other week as a treat. Some medicine came out, but at least he got most of it. I wanted to share this so in case someone else had an issue with giving a medicine of some kind in liquid form, worms can/will make great "fruit/medicine gushers!" Thanks for all of your help/advice!! Hopefully this weekend I will be getting my new tank.

[richieboy]

Thanks for updating. I'm glad it all worked out.

[marisa]

Yes, I'm glad he was seen and treated.