My tapeworm...or is is a flat, segmented worm of another class?
- Thread starter knifegill
- Start date
I remember playing with 2 large earthworms measuring at least 24-28 inches before I released them in my garden.
Hehe, I really like worms - good for you for being curious (even with the potential of danger, hah).
I'd agree that it looks nothing like an annelid - the first photo you can see the digestive tract so clearly - ribbing would have shown up then. The floppiness of the worm also indicates otherwise - oligochaetes have a nice turgid pressure to them, thanks to the hydrostatic skeleton.
If it has survived so well, I think it's safe to assume that it is not parasitic.
This should be an easy way to tell - does its digestive system appear to run all the way down its body, or is it sorta just a cavity? By which I mean, look up Planaria and their feeding behavior (they use a pharynx, which looks eerily like a penis). If it has a pharynx, it is most likely of the Class Turbellaria (non-parasitic, predatory flatworms). If not.... then you have a number of choices. Haha.
I'd agree that it looks nothing like an annelid - the first photo you can see the digestive tract so clearly - ribbing would have shown up then. The floppiness of the worm also indicates otherwise - oligochaetes have a nice turgid pressure to them, thanks to the hydrostatic skeleton.
If it has survived so well, I think it's safe to assume that it is not parasitic.
This should be an easy way to tell - does its digestive system appear to run all the way down its body, or is it sorta just a cavity? By which I mean, look up Planaria and their feeding behavior (they use a pharynx, which looks eerily like a penis). If it has a pharynx, it is most likely of the Class Turbellaria (non-parasitic, predatory flatworms). If not.... then you have a number of choices. Haha.
Yea man that is definitely NOT a tapeworm.
My guess is either a leech of some sort or a freshwater oligochaete, but you need high quality pictures for anyone to ID it
My guess is either a leech of some sort or a freshwater oligochaete, but you need high quality pictures for anyone to ID it
ReelBigFish;4571655; said:
You came to that conclusion based on ... ?
ReelBigFish;4571655; said:
We've fairly positively established that it is a flat segmented worm. The flat part effectively rules out both Leeches, and Earthworms; neither of which are flat.
Pretty much we've agreed that it's a flatworm of some sort. The fact that it was found in a PBass tank after they administered a dewormer indicates it is likely a tapeworm of some sort. The most likely tapeworm to be found in fish is Diphyllobothrium Latum.
Anyway, Knifegill, got any updates on this monster? Is it still alive?
knifegill;4541335; said:
I'm still going to see how he does in my care. I do love my worms.
sig worthy
Dark Jester;4571754; said:You came to that conclusion based on ... ?
We've fairly positively established that it is a flat segmented worm. The flat part effectively rules out both Leeches, and Earthworms; neither of which are flat.
Pretty much we've agreed that it's a flatworm of some sort. The fact that it was found in a PBass tank after they administered a dewormer indicates it is likely a tapeworm of some sort. The most likely tapeworm to be found in fish is Diphyllobothrium Latum.
Anyway, Knifegill, got any updates on this monster? Is it still alive?
I didn't realize this worm popped out of a Pbass....guess I should've read over this thread more carefully.
*smashes head onto keyboard*
