Horsehair Worms

[kagome]

Weird random question. So I was doing some research on ghost shrimp and came across some pictures and discussions about them coming with a large internal parasite.

A lot of sites and YouTube videos call is a horsehair worm (nematomorphs), so I looked those up.

But, everything I found about the worms doesn't add up to them being parasites in shrimp. Nematomorphs are parasites when they're young, but only in terrestrial insects, like crickets, cockroaches, beetles, even praying mantis.

The worms infect insects, grow to adults inside their bodies and then take over the bugs' "minds" and force them to jump into water so they can emerge.

But I can't find any kind of source anywhere that says that they infect freshwater shrimp. In aquatic environments, horsehair worms are free living, no parasites.

I know that ghost shrimp can get parasitic worms, but I'm curious to know what kind of worm that actually are, since they're not Nematomorpha. Anybody know what they actually are? I haven't been able to figure it out and it's bugging me.

[Carl]

This is not a subject I given much research to nor have experienced enough to make a helpful comment.

What I will say is I like how you think, not accepting the all too common diagnosis in this hobby even when certain facts do not add up (Betta Tail Biting and issues with Melafix & Bettas come to mind)
www.fish-as-pets.com/2008/12/melafix-dangers-labyrinth-fish.html
www.fish-as-pets.com/2014/10/common-aquarium-keeping-myths.html#betta

If you find out more, please continue to educate us here or even write an article for Everything Aquatic


Carl

[kagome]

So far, no luck properly identifying the species. But from anecdotal accounts, once the worm reaches maturity, it exits the shrimp either through the mouth or the anus. This is fatal to the shrimp.

[Carl]

Jun 9, 2019 12:05:55 GMT -5 kagome said:

So far, no luck properly identifying the species. But from anecdotal accounts, once the worm reaches maturity, it exits the shrimp either through the mouth or the anus. This is fatal to the shrimp.

Maybe an "Anusmouth" worm?

Just made this up though

Carl