also: うおじらみ
Japanese fish louse; Argulus japonicus
A parasitic crustacean that attaches to the skin of freshwater fish, especially koi and goldfish. The term is used in aquarium and fishery contexts.
There is a fish louse attached to the goldfish's body.
Fish lice harm fish by sucking their bodily fluids.
An alternative gikun reading for the same kanji forms, but rarely used in modern Japanese. ウオジラミ is the standard term.
Hiragana variant; less common than katakana but still encountered.
Kanji form using 虱 (louse). Rarely used; the kana spelling is strongly preferred.
Kanji form using 蝨 (louse). Rarely used; the kana spelling is strongly preferred.
Kanji form literally meaning 'goldfish louse'. Rarely used.
Search-only kanji-kana hybrid form; not a standard spelling.
Compound of 魚 (uo, 'fish') and 虱 (shirami, 'louse'). The reading うおじらみ is a straightforward combination; the gikun reading ちょう is of uncertain origin.