HELP! HELP! Something "slithered" out of my Ghost Srimp!

A white worm thing wiggled out of a ghost shrimp I just bought last night from Walmart. The shrimp was alive, but wasn't looking all that great. My Dragon fish then started to go after it and kind'a nippin' at it a little. Then it left the shrimp alone and the poor thing was on it's back w/ it's little legs going and trying, I guess, to sort of swim. All the sudden I see this pure white, very thin, wiggly worm look 'n thing coming out of the shrimps chest area. It was at least 2" long or longer. At first I thought, "eeewww...dead shrimp crap". NOOOO!!! Wrong end and crapdon't dance. This thing wiggled out of the shrimp, then, wiggled into the gravel of my little fish tank.

Can someone please tell me what the hell just wiggled it's way into my fish tank!!!???!!! I haven't removed it just yet in case it's something sort of common, cool, rare, new breed, ET, etc. But, if it's a parasite (which I think it is) I'd like to find out ASAP before more pop up (or out) and/or infect or eat my other fish. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

It is a Gordian Worm, a.k.a. Horsehair Worm. REALLY strange life cycle there was a thread about that on here recently. I'll try to find it and get back to you!
-Thom

Found it!

http://forum.nanfa.o...?showtopic=3380

Hope this helps.
-Thom

THANK YOU...THANK YOU...THANK YOU!!!!!!! The fish tank is actually my 6 yr old daughter's. She's been doing great w/ feeding and taking care of her new fish, the tank and even checking and changing the filter. Her and I both watched in shock as this thing wiggled on out of this poor little shrimp. Although her reaction/comment after this little event was toooo frk 'n funny...she said, "Mom...why do we keep getting all weird and stupid fish?" She stated stupid because one of our parrot fish got stuck in the hole of the fake rock in the tank, and died. Then a few days later, a sucker fish got stuck in a plant and died. Don't ask...I don't know!!! Thanks again.

Found it!

http://forum.nanfa.o...?showtopic=3380

Hope this helps.
-Thom

To continue the discussion about parasites. I can't say I like them. They are weird, but not in a wonderful sort of way. And I think they are cheaters at the game of life! (but it sure works for them!)

Edited by critterguy, 09 March 2008 - 10:34 PM.

wooow that's awesome I've only hear another story like that but I never saw it for myself- ask the guy at the store where they come from, maybe it's something indigenous to the location.. aawesome!! i wish you had pictures -Fishfool @ The Reef Tank

wooow that's awesome I've only hear another story like that but I never saw it for myself- ask the guy at the store where they come from, maybe it's something indigenous to the location.. aawesome!! i wish you had pictures -Fishfool @ The Reef Tank

There are some really good pictures of ghost shrimp with worms in the thread linked above. Here's one of mine as well: