Tropical Fish Keeping banner

Anchor worms?!?!?

1K views 7 replies 2 participants last post by  SeaHorse 
#1 ·
Has anyone dealt with Anchor worms. I took me a couple weeks and a couple of fish to figure out what it was. I know how it got into my tank now, don't wanna tell y'all. (LOL afraid everyone will tell me how stupid I am) .. Right now,seems to be about 4 rainbow fish with it, I did a 50% water change, added a new medicine for Anchor worms/lice . by Micro-lift. It's a week long dose to repeat with water change for 3 weeks. I am curious if anyone else has had this experience and will it clear up? Should I get another med to help heal any wounds this may leave, Any thoughts could help.
Thanks, Flower:surprise:
 
#2 · (Edited)
I am following this as I have Rainbows mainly as well and it is devastating to lose one to anything!! They are terribly expensive here so I rarely can find any to add to my tank. So when I do... it's scary. Will have to look these worms up. I assume you added without QT to your tank? Been there, done that as well!!
Keep us posted!!

EDIT: Looked them up... Eeeewww!
 
#4 ·
Yes, I think Carbon absorbs meds I believe so you might need to re medicate the tank... hopefully someone will advise more. Wish I was more help.
 
#5 ·
UPDATE after my last post I had to leave town for 7 days. While away I was able to research and I found the best product to use is probably Dimilin-X it used to be only found as a powder for ponds mainly. But on Amazon I found a liquid bottle , so I got the smallest... it treats 25,000 Gallons. Like I said it's mainly used in ponds and since Anchor worms/ Lice type parasites are mostly found in freshwater ponds it makes sense. Although it is difficult to add 1/4 of a teaspoon of anything without a syringe.
So, long story short I did a 30% water change took out all of my carbon media from both filters and treated with the Dimilin-X. It says to retreat in 3 days with a max of 3 treatments within one month. So Tomorrow I will treat again. The fish seem fine, even the ones with the Anchor worms hanging off them. Hopefully they will just fall off soon. I just don't see how to catch my small rainbow fish, hold them down out of water and take out the worms with tweezers. It just seems cruel. Maybe I'm being cruel not doing that, I have no idea. So we will see won't we..... Big thanks to Seahorse for the interest in my post.Check back in a few days y'all
XXoo Flowers
 
#6 ·
Final update( hopefully)
second dose yesterday. Everyone looks good , except the Rainbow's have Anchor Worms hanging off them, looks like egg sacks as well....hopefully they will fall off. Putting my Carbon back in both filters today...Wish me luck y'all
xxoo Flowers
 
#7 ·
Final info I've learned. At this point I'm more interested in sharing what I have learned rather than looking for advice,(which was non existent.)
So hopefully this helps someone. I'm keeping my carbon out and treating every 3 then 4 days, with a partial water change every 7-10 days. Evidently the anchor worms still hanging off my rainbow fish are still alive, the Dimilin-X says it breaks the life cycle, however the attached worms are living and breathing through the fish. So to break the life cycle of the eggs to larva to adult is a continuous cycle. So I will continue treating until I see no more. Thanks y'all.xxoo
I will share how this happened.... I had a piece of driftwood from my old painted turtle tank, it had been sitting in the garage for months, I did rinse and drain for a couple days with very hot (not boiling) water. I guess it wasn't enough. This is a good lesson for anyone, don't risk it!!!
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top