[Ed]

Soil dwelling nonpathnogenic nematodes can behave in this manner. Often what is observed is not that the nematodes are attacking the egg itself but are feeding on the gel mass that accompanies the eggs as this can begin to decompose before the egg hatches.
I would be very hesitant about spraying a vivarium down with a solution of baytril (enrofloxin) as this will increase the risk of resistance occurring in aeromonads (potential causes of red leg) reducing the chances of a cure if this is an outbreak.


I am also not aware of any published references listing baytril as an antihelmetic of any sort. I suspect (speculation here) that the apparent reduction in the numbers may have been due to a reduction in the biofilm.

In general regarding soil nematodes, they are impossible to eradicate from a system and are nearly impossible to prevent from colonizing a system unless you are keeping everything sterile.

Ed
Ed Kowalski
South Jersey

 

[Ed]

They can come in on plants, pieces of wood, bark, stones, anything that been in contact with a moist surface and has not been strictly disinfected. They are harmless. I have seen them feeding on dead eggs with the good eggs right next to them untouched. For the most part they feed on the bacteria and other microorganisms that are found in the tank hence the reference to the biofilm. Baytril as far as I have ever referenced in not used to kill worms but if your reference did it I suspect it was more because they killed off some of the food source.
Overuse of antibiotics is a big problem and can cause the various bacteria in the tank to become resistant to the antibiotics of choice when they need to be treated.

Hope this helps,

Ed

 

[Ed]

One of the points I forgot to include above is that there are many different species of soil nematodes. It is possible that we may have each seen a different species with a different ability to destroy good eggs.

Ed