Treating Your Fish for Anchor Worms

Let's talk about treating your fish for anchor worms.

If you have a pond or fish tank you should be aware of anchor worms. They are small crustacean parasites that very commonly affect goldfish as well as other fish. Anchor worms are an external parasite which means they are on the outside of a fish's body. They attached themselves to fish and feed on the tissue and body fluids of the fish.

If the parasite is not treated it causes serious problems for all your fish. Anchor worms can reproduce and their feeding on fish causes other bacterial infections. Anchor worms typically show up in pond, but they can also be introduced into tank of goldfish by a plant. They can sometimes be seen attached to fish, they look like a small worm and they can cause sores on fish. However, in the early stages anchor worms are too small to be seen.

Luckily, it is quite easy to treat anchor worms with different medications. It is important to get rid of all anchor worms including the ones that are too small to be seen by the human eye. That is way it's best to use medications.

Some of the best medications include Dimilin, Proform LA, Potassium Permanganate, and Anchor's Away.

Dimilin is a great medication for anchor worms. It's recommended to wait fourteen days for results and it may take up to two dosages to kill all anchor worms. Proform LA is really great because it's low maintenance and very safe for both fish and humans. It also treats fish lice and won't harm other pond life such as frogs and turtles. Potassium Permanganate is a strong medication. It should only be used by a experienced fish owner who can properly follow the instructions. If not used properly this treatment can actually kill the fish. Anchors Away is very effective. It should be used for three weeks, but within a week or so the anchor worms start falling right off the fish.

Treating anchor worms as soon as they are notice is important. You need to try to kill the parasites before they seriously harm all of your fish.

The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your veterinarian or other health care professional. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment.