Experienced keepers please help / anchor worms

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craigfish1

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 15, 2022
14
14
3
49
Lake Charles, la
Have you tested your water?
Yes
If yes, what is your ammonia?
0
If I did not test my water...
  1. ...I recognize that I will likely be asked to do a test, and that water tests are critical for solving freshwater health problems.
Do you do water changes?
Yes
What percentage of water do you change?
61-70%
How frequently do you change your water?
Every week
If I do not change my water...
  1. ...I recognize that I will likely be recommended to do a water change, and water changes are critical for preventing future freshwater health problems.
Hi y'all. I am not writing this without having done a ton of research and questioning others in the hobby, or business. I have read everything I can possibly find. Including posts on mfk.
I have large tanks, and have been fighting anchor worms for Months now, in my 180, and now 300.
I've used 3 products. Cyropro (cyromazine), microbe lift ( cyromazine), and currently Dimlin x (diflubenzuron).
I follow the instructions perfectly. I went through entire 16oz bottle of Cyropro. I used 4 full oz of dimlin x. This is for a 180 gallon tank treatment process. I often double or triple the dose of dimlin x, it has no adverse effect on my fish I can see.
I maintain my tanks to a very high degree, and since treatments have been continuous, the tank(s) get large water changes 2x a week, generally.
I am aware of the life cycle of these copepods, and how the 2 different insecticides work, against the copepods.
I have been treating for (4?)months now. While the copepods have declined significantly, they are still showing themselves . Dimlin x seems to have been most effective, but not completely. Everything I read describes Dimlin x eradicates the copepods in 3 treatments. I've treated many more times than 3 , at this point. I am very frustrated, but I wont give up. What am I doing wrong? How about other insecticides? Bichir, knifefish, African arowana, odoe pike, are involved.
 
You are probably getting new re-infestations. What is your new fish or live food quarantine procedure?

If you want to test the effectiveness of a treatment, put one fish into a smaller tank with exactly the same water and medication dose. What happens there will be what's happening in your big tanks.
 
This is the same infestation, that I started out with, so long ago now. In my 180g, I have not allowed any fish to be removed or be added, at all, because of the copepods being present. I have learned lessons in past, such as this exact situation, and would never add a fish into my collection without quarantine again. Too much risk. All food is fresh/frozen from grocery store, and pellets.
The dimlin x has shown results, but months later, they are still showing themselves in small numbers. I have been keeping fish for life, and water quality is a huge importance to me. These anchor worms are very tough.
I have read small amounts of information about using other insecticides, not geared towards fish.
 
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Cyromazine never worked for me. I plucked off the anchor worms with tweezers and treated for 6 weeks. It would slightly get better and come raging back.

I finally eradicated it with salt
 
Agree with P phreeflow here is link hopefully it helps https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/treatment-for-anchor-worms.746000/

Agree with P phreeflow here is link hopefully it helps https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/treatment-for-anchor-worms.746000/
Thankyou. Is it necessary to use aquarium salt for this? I am familiar with using aquarium salt, but I am aware perhaps I can use a salt available from the grocery store? Pure NaCl. Is this possible ?
 
You are probably getting new re-infestations. What is your new fish or live food quarantine procedure?

If you want to test the effectiveness of a treatment, put one fish into a smaller tank with exactly the same water and medication dose. What happens there will be what's happening in your big tanks.
Thankyou
 
Kosher salt or sea salt. No iodized salt.
 
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