Anchor worms in salt water?

ctreefer · 03/10/2007, 04:14 PM

I bought some fish this past week from a local wholesaler. I tried to get a good look of the fish before bagging, but the space was cramped and I was in a hurry. As a result, one of my fish (squareback anthias) ended up coming home with something attached to it that looks like an anchorworm. From all I can find online it only seems they're in fresh water. I pulled it off this morning and this is what it looks like:

Any thoughts? It is about 1.5 inches from end to end. The fish is in quarantine with some other anthias. Should I also treat with copper or anything else? I did a fresh water dip before I put them from the bags to quarantine, but it was only about 5 minutes because one of the anthias looked like it wasn't going to make it. Now I'm guessing this is the one.

LeslieH · 03/10/2007, 04:48 PM

Anchor worms are really highly modified copepods in the genus Lernaea. While those are strictly freshwater there are many other parasitic copepods in salt water. This appears to be one. Luckily it's an external parasite so there shouldn't be a continuing infestation. I don't raise fish so someone else will have to chime in with advice on how to treat it.

ToniYo · 03/10/2007, 07:25 PM

Hi,

I went through an infestation of these from a zebra eel that I rescued from a failed LFS. I tried every dip known to man and had short term remedy but nothing lasting. I did however suceed in bonding with my eel! Finally, someone suggested a cleaner wrasse and it worked like a charm. I had been told that cleaners don't thrive well in captivity so I borrowed one from a friend with a huge tank that had kept this guy sucessfully for quite some time. I had him for a little over a month and all of the worms were gone and the wrasse went back home. All happy.

Best of luck.

Toni

03/10/2007, 04:14 PM	#1
ctreefer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: southern CT Posts: 3,274	Anchor worms in salt water? I bought some fish this past week from a local wholesaler. I tried to get a good look of the fish before bagging, but the space was cramped and I was in a hurry. As a result, one of my fish (squareback anthias) ended up coming home with something attached to it that looks like an anchorworm. From all I can find online it only seems they're in fresh water. I pulled it off this morning and this is what it looks like: Any thoughts? It is about 1.5 inches from end to end. The fish is in quarantine with some other anthias. Should I also treat with copper or anything else? I did a fresh water dip before I put them from the bags to quarantine, but it was only about 5 minutes because one of the anthias looked like it wasn't going to make it. Now I'm guessing this is the one.

03/10/2007, 04:48 PM	#2
LeslieH Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 3,178	Anchor worms are really highly modified copepods in the genus Lernaea. While those are strictly freshwater there are many other parasitic copepods in salt water. This appears to be one. Luckily it's an external parasite so there shouldn't be a continuing infestation. I don't raise fish so someone else will have to chime in with advice on how to treat it. __________________ Cheers, Leslie So many worms, so little time... Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

03/10/2007, 07:25 PM	#3
ToniYo Premium Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Tarpon Springs, FL Posts: 214	Hi, I went through an infestation of these from a zebra eel that I rescued from a failed LFS. I tried every dip known to man and had short term remedy but nothing lasting. I did however suceed in bonding with my eel! Finally, someone suggested a cleaner wrasse and it worked like a charm. I had been told that cleaners don't thrive well in captivity so I borrowed one from a friend with a huge tank that had kept this guy sucessfully for quite some time. I had him for a little over a month and all of the worms were gone and the wrasse went back home. All happy. Best of luck. Toni