Mortality and gill lesions in snakehead, Channa argus (body length range, 20.3-22.2 cm) reared in a aqua-farm in Busan, Korea, were associated with a dense bloom of Apiosoma-like ciliate, Order Petrichida. The size of parasite was $48.83{pm}7.75{mu}m{ imes}14.29{pm}2.66{mu}m$. Histological examination revealed that a severe edema and collapse of the gill tissue were observed in a number of samples of snakehead. The mechanism of gill damage was likely due to physical irritation by the parasite. It is believed that this is the first report of Apiosoma-like ciliate in cultured fish in Korea.