parasite · pond-mostly

Argulus (Fish Lice)

Argulus (fish lice) are visible flat parasitic crustaceans (4-8mm) attached to fish skin. Common in koi ponds + outdoor goldfish. Treatment: organophosphate or manual removal.

Severity: Moderate - irritating, secondary infection risk

Symptoms

Cause

Argulus parasites contracted from outdoor water sources or imported pond fish. Usually visible to naked eye.

Treatment

Always treat in a separate quarantine tank. Most medications are toxic to coral, invertebrates, and live rock biology.

Manual removal + iodine. Net fish, remove parasites with tweezers, dab bite site with iodine. For small infestations.
Diflubenzuron (Dimilin). Pond treatment. Kills argulus + anchor worm. Single-dose effective.
Potassium permanganate dip. Short bath kills external parasites. Stressful but effective.

Prevention

Quarantine pond fish. Avoid wild caught + add UV sterilizer to pond.

Related

Browse the full disease database for 45 aquarium conditions with treatment protocols, or check the care library for prevention-focused husbandry guides. Use our symptom matcher to rank likely diseases from observed signs, the water parameter checker to diagnose related water-quality issues, or the QT timeline calculator to plan a treatment schedule.