Found on feces - parasitic worm, maggot or ?

[Fumbles]

I left for about 4 nights and when I came back I saw everything was normal except for the droppings from my Fimbriatus. They had these white larvae all over them. I also see similar larvae buried about 1/4" in the substrate. I just changed the substrate too.

I'm just not educated in these kinds of things. Can anyone identify this? I don't know about parasitic worms - if they grow after they're outside, if these are normal maggots from some small fly that might have got in, or maybe cricket larvae?

Here's some pics. Might not want to view these while eating. The larvae/worms in question are only a few millimeters or so long.

 

[Aimless]

they look like maggots, but so do all sorts of things.

 

[cricket4u]

Are those undigested crickets? If so you may want to get a fecal exam.

 

[Fumbles]

Are those undigested crickets? If so you may want to get a fecal exam.

I thought that as well. The insides were digested though. The fimbriatus eat the crickets whole with their giant mouths. It might have only been chewed once or twice.

 

[pakinjak]

First off, I wouldn't worry about the cricket bodies. I see them commonly in the feces of my animals.

Secondly, have you ever seen any "fruit flies" around in your herp room? If so, then my guess is that they are indeed phorid fly maggots. Assuming you have said flies, you can make sure it's them and not fruit flies by watching them a little. Phorid flies walk in a zigzag motion before finally taking off into flight, fruit flies just take off. Phorid flies also have brown eyes, but the kicker is that phorid flies will lay in most anything moist, fruit flies won't.

Here's a link for ya to read up on them- About Phorid Fly | Bugs & Pests Database | Hulett Pest Control

Let us know what you find out, eh?

 

[Aimless]

fungus gnats (Fungus gnat - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) are fairly common in herp rooms as well, and like to feed on and lay in decaying organic matter (which I only assume includes fecal matter). they're also about the size of a fruit fly, but with different eyes and a slightly more slender appearance - at least the species we see here. often times their larvae will hitch a ride on the roots of commercially available plants, or in bags of organic mulches and composts. I've had small blooms of those several times. they're gross but don't do anything, although if I had an ill animal I'd be worried about potential transfer of pathogens.

 

[Spyral]

I suspect maggots. You could try "incubating" them in a deli cup and see what they metamorphose into. They do that all the time on crime shows.