How to Get Rid of Anchor Worms in an Aquarium

Just like maggots on a dead body, anchor worms attach themselves to injured or sick fish. They are parasites that dig their heads into the body of the fish. If the anchor worms are not controlled, they will spread to other fish and throughout the tank because anchor worms are contagious. A complete cleaning and quarantine is needed to completely get rid of anchor worms from your aquarium.

Things You'll Need

  • Plastic buckets
  • .01mg of Dimilin solution
  • Air stones
  • Tweezers
  • Plastic bag
  • Neosporin
  • Bleach
  • Distilled water
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Instructions

    • 1

      Pour one quart of water into a plastic bucket. Squeeze .01mg of Dimilin solution into the bucket. Continue to add the Dimilin solution three times a day every 6 days, as long as the fish are still contaminated.

    • 2

      Place an air stone into the bucket to provide fresh air for the fish.

    • 3

      Catch the contaminated fish in a net. Pick off the anchor worms using a pair of tweezers. Throw the anchor worms in a sealed plastic bag. Put a pea-sized amount of Neosporin on the tip of a cotton swab. Coat the wound of the fish with Neosporin.

    • 4

      Place the cleaned fish into the plastic bucket filled with solution for 24 hours. Repeat Step 1 and 2. Move the fish from the first bucket to a new bucket.

    • 5

      Clean the first bucket and air stone with the bleach solution while the fish are in the new bucket.

    • 6

      Continue this process for 10 days or until the fish show no symptoms of anchor worms.

    • 7

      Clean the tank and all items in the tank with a bleach solution. The bleach solution should be half cup of bleach to 1 gallon of water. Rinse the tank and items with distilled water.

    • 8

      Fill your aquarium with new water, gravel, air filter, etc. Place the fish back into the original tank.