Goldfish Anchor Worm

Anchor worm is a goldfish illness that is usually caused by live feed.

When visible it appears as pieces of string between 5mm and 10mm with a forked tail embedded in the goldfish's skin. It may also appear from open sores, blood spots or red rings. Anchor worms are clear/white, red/brown or green in colour. Another symptom of this goldfish illness is rubbing against objects in an attempt to dislodge the irritation. This behaviour often occurs before the anchor worm is visible.

All good pet shops stock remedies for anchor worm. Treatment for this goldfish illness is usually complete within 3 - 4 days. It is important to note that some treatments are based on inhibiting the formation of insect exoskeletons, and therefore may have wider implications in ponds than in aquariums. Another method of treatment is removal by tweezers.