Strange attatchment to droppings

[clare]

I am a new keeper. So please dont laugh if I post something stupid. smiles.
Today I noticed what looks almost like string attached to what I assume are their droppings. I have found 3 of these in the tank. About 6 weeks ago they had mated and I had a tank full of eggs. I know the male drops lil sperm packets and so on. But these are actually attached to the droppings. Scared me to death. As I said it looks like string. I know they have not had string in their tank. It looks like bowels ACK !!!!
Can some one please give me some help here. I am very worried.
BTW the eggs hatched lived for about a month. With some deaths. Then the rest mass died.. sigh..

 

[hitgirl]

Hmm, that sounds rather odd, I hope someone can help. I know normally after it sits there a while it tends to form a line heading to the surface.

 

[john]

That happens sometimes, especially when feeding earthworms and insect larvae. Shouldn't be something to worry about.