anchor worm

[caz27]

not sure if you read my last post on chit chat but i was worried about my barb swimming madly....... there was nothing visible on him so i thought he must just be playing.. i have been keeping an eye on him and noticed he has a worm on his back this morning....... i referred to my book and they recommend pulling the worm out with tweezers....I was wondering is there not a easier way? i can't see how i am going to be able toi do it won't he flip about too much? any advice would be gr8

Caz

 

[caz27]

No one can help me at all?

 

[sandyd]

I can deffinately relate to how you feel. I just got a new swordtail that seems to have worms coming out of her rectum. Not a good thing, the lfs store said to pull them out and make sure they are worms. I told them to come help me do it, but i did get a med for it. I am not sure what meds are available there for them, you could check with your lfs. I bought something called parasite clear made by jungle and it says it gets rid of all parasites. I would be afraid to injure the fish by pulling it off, as i think they kind of attach themselves to the fish. I would call or go to the local fish store and see what is available there. Sandy

 

[caz27]

Thanks for the reply......i have been checking the forum all day i am going to try and pluck it out tonight........wish me luck

 

[CFC]

Anchor worm is best treated with STERAZIN by waterlife, removing the worm is tricky and if the head is left in the body it can become infected or even grow back!!

If i remember rightly the course takes about 11 days and kills any of the free swimming larvae stage of the worm too.

 

[Wasserpest]

Not sure if this helps you but I had recently a bout with anchor worms and Mogo helped a lot http/fish.orbust.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=7801

I was very hesitant fishing them out, especially because they were so extremely shy. But this was because of the anchor worms! I fished them out a total of three times (I waited too long so I had several generations of worms) before they were clear.

The medications kill only the free swimming stages (larvae), so if you see any worms with a forked tail you should definitely pull them out, or they will just continue to propagate.

The left the gouramies in the net, partially covered, on top of a moist paper. They were very quiet, not flipping around at all... and I had never problems getting the worm out once I found them. That was the trick... out of the water they are very transparent and it isn't easy to find them, just have to remember the exact place where they were.

I read about someone catching the fishies in a net and then "operating" them in the water, but I think that's when they would be too jumpy.

Hope everything will go well...

 

[smb]

You could use a wet towel also. It's really easy to hold them in a wet towel.

 

[bigfish]

Bigfish to the rescure. Try a product called 'Anti Crustacean Parasite' by Interpet treats Anchor Worm, Fish Lice, Gill Maggots and Fish Leeches but it will knock out your filter bacteria. I should warn you.

I thought i would save you from using the tweezers.