Worms on Eggs?

[Leo-Land]

I just looked in my incubator and I saw the there was tiny clear worms on my fertile egg! they were crawling around on there! I had to remove them the best I could and I think they are all gone now. I'm using Perlite as an incubation medium. How would these things get in? The eggs are inside a sealed tupperware container which is inside the incubator. Is there any hope for my egg?

[reptilez]

It sounds like they came from a fungus that is growing in your incubator, but this has never happened to me so dont quote me. what is ur incubating and what is the temp? if its too hot thats how funngus starts.
-Reptilez

[Leo-Land]

There is no fungus in the incubator. The incubator itself is brand new! It's a steamy 84º inside the incubator. I really dunno how these could have gotten in there.

I asked someone else and he said that my leo might have worms and that transferred to the eggs. Can this happen?

[reptilez]

I dont think that the eggs would have worms on them, but the babies would for sure if one of your did. And when you said "Steamy 84F" does that mean that there is a high humidity level, because thats how they would live...off of the humid air.
-Reptilez

[Leo-Land]

naw, not that humid.. I think I just killed all the worms tho. But I also might have killed the egg aswell. It was a chance I had to take. Either I kill the worms and possibly egg aswell, or the worms kill the egg and I have tons of new baby worms on my hands.

I dipped it in a 1 : 5 bleech : water solution very fast, then into normal water then dried it.. All within like 4 seconds. But I'm sure I got rid of the worms. The egg I'm not to sure about, but it was a chance I had to take..

I hope I have better luck with her next clutch.

[reptilez]

I suggested you change the Perlite you have in there with new fresh stuff, just incase there are eggs or something....I also suggest you ask a reptile store like Reptilia or PCPC about your eggs. Good luck with her next clutch,
-Reptilez

[Leo-Land]

I did change the perlite after I did the bleech thing.. That'd be awesome if it still made it though, althought that's quite doubtful!

[reptilez]

How do the eggs look now?

[Leo-Land]

they look the same, just cleaner. No worms

[reptilez]

Right again in like 2-3 days and tell me what the eggs look like then. Good luck till then,
-Reptilez

[Leo-Land]

Will do. I just don't have much hope for this clutch any longer.. Hope the next will turn out better!

[reptilez]

Well dont throw them away untill hey start to turn orange and cave in :)

[Leo-Land]

there was a bit of mold growing on that one with the worms on it. I took off all the mold. I dunno if this means it's dead or not.

[reptilez]

It doesnt..... just try to lower the humidity a bit.

[reptilez]

It doesnt..... just try to lower the humidity a bit.

[fr0glet]

Tiny clear worms sound just like the very common oxyurid parasite. Lots and lots and lots and lots of leos (and other herps) carry these, and they can live with them if their load doesn't get too heavy.

It is very likely that your leos are carrying these worms (super-common) and passed them on their eggs. Take a fresh fecal sample to your local herp vet and get it tested for parasites. These are easily treated with fenbendazole (name brand Panacur) but you will need experienced advice on doseage quantities. If their worm load is heavy, it can be detrimental to the health of your lizards and they may never thrive.

In my experience 99% of the herps I've taken in have parasites. Thereby I annually "shotgun" treat my entire collection with fenbendazole. Since I started doing this my herp's appetites, activity levels and clutch frequency has increased (although I don't incubate eggs at this point).

Hope that helps. Parasites can lead to the death of your herps due to secondary problems, getting them treated is cheap and easy and will help them a lot.

[Leo-Land]

I don't believe this but, the eggs are looking healthier! That's insane! I got some good advice on how to take care of the mold problem by a friend and I'll have that taken care of by tomorrow. The egg is looking more plump and there is no Worms or other little bugs on them What so ever! I just candled it once more and the pinkish glow is getting more brighter. I think there might be some hope for this one! I'm not sure, but I can dream!

[reptilez]

Well good luck, What was the advice that your friend gave you?
-Reptilez

[Leo-Land]

He told me to put Anti-Fugal foot powder on the eggs to kill the mold. He's done it hundreds of time with sucessful hatches. And it seemed to work!