Parasitic
🟡 Moderate
Anchor Worms
🦠 Lernaea cyprinacea (copepod)
📋 Overview
Adult female Lernaea attach with an anchor-shaped head embedded in the fish tissue, leaving a Y-shaped body dangling externally. They are visible to the naked eye as small pale strings on the fish.
📊 Key Facts
Causative Agent
Lernaea cyprinacea (copepod)
Primary Host
Goldfish, koi, pond fish
Vaccine
✗ None / Experimental
💊 Treatment
⚠️ No universally approved treatment is currently available. The information below covers supportive care and experimental approaches.
Physical removal with tweezers (gentle - dont break the anchor). Dimilin (diflubenzuron) treatment. Formalin baths.
🐟 Affected Species
2 known susceptible species