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Cultivated Reef

Harmful Isopod?


caietaro

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I've had a few new fish in QT for about 6 weeks now and today I just saw for the first time an isopod cruising around the tank like crazy. I was able to catch it, have it in a glass, and took a few pictures. I did put a few pieces of LR rubble in the tank when I added the fish to help seed some bacteria so I'm assuming it came in on that. I just want to make sure it isn't a harmful isopod that will attack the fish (I haven't ever seen one like this in my main display tank). I checked the article on Reefkeeping.com (http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-05/rs/index.php) but still am not sure which one it is. Any ideas?

 

It swims extremely fast and seems to be upside down most of the time.

 

post-52503-0-83777100-1429307850_thumb.jpg

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Weasel Baron

No sense in risking it, it'd get rid of it or throw it in the sump or something. Reminds me of that terrifying isopod that eats it's host's tongue and lives in its place

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No sense in risking it, it'd get rid of it or throw it in the sump or something. Reminds me of that terrifying isopod that eats it's host's tongue and lives in its place

Exactly what I was thinking! I'm worried now though that there might be others in the tank hiding away. Wonder if I should treat the QT with copper? My DT has been fishless for over 2 months now so hopefully if any were in there they've all since died (if they are the parasitic kind).

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Get a minnow and see if the isopods latches on, if so he's dangerous and must go, of not he's fine.

Parisitic ones physically can't survive with no host, if they could they wouldn't be parasites.

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Unfortunately I'm not sure where to get a minnow. Any idea how long they can survive with no host?

 

try a local bait shop, where do you live?
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try a local bait shop, where do you live?

In MA, near Boston. I've had this pod in a glass for well over 24 hours now and I'm surprised it's still swimming around!

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Weasel Baron

looks like a Cirolanid or Aegid

 

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/bp/index.php

 

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-05/rs/

 

 

"The vast majority of Cirolanids seen in the aquarium hobby seem to be obligate parasites of fish and will starve to death in your tank in two to six months if no fish are present."

 

I dont know about you, but im not cool w/ waiting that long. throw it in your sump or buy a tiny in-tank fuge if youre not comfortable killing it

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In MA, near Boston. I've had this pod in a glass for well over 24 hours now and I'm surprised it's still swimming around!

go get you some glass minnows at a sea side live bait shop, that should do the trick ;)

Pick healthy ones.

Also lol energizer bunny has competition.

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Thanks Weasel, it does look almost exactly like one of the Cirolanids pictures in the first link in your post. I have no problem killing this thing, that's for sure!

 

go get you some glass minnows at a sea side live bait shop, that should do the trick ;)
Pick healthy ones.
Also lol energizer bunny has competition.

I'll see if I can get there today - heading to the OSRAS conference so I might not make it back in time. This thing may very well still be alive tomorrow though!

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They are neat creatures, just generally very undesirable. Would be wonderful to keep it in a pico and allow it to exist a while longer and be able to view it. I found mine quite a funny character.

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I kept mine as a pet in a pico. fed it bits of meat.

yours probably isn't a parisitic species, there is a difference between parisite and predator. And not all cirolanids are parisites.

Not a bad idea! Bring it to work and keep it on my desk :lol:

even if it's a parisitic one that would be an awesome thing to keep in a desk top tank, good thing minnows are cheap.
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The one I kept actually made a dive at me. it got my thumb, I got out before it could bite and that was how I caught the thing.

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Weasel Baron

The one I kept actually made a dive at me. it got my thumb, I got out before it could bite and that was how I caught the thing.

 

 

nightmare fuel

 

tumblr_lz6jimDLOo1qbxh0uo1_500.gif

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The one I kept actually made a dive at me. it got my thumb, I got out before it could bite and that was how I caught the thing.

lol that's a pretty savage isopod
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Keep it as a pet in a tiny pico.... it would be a unique pet :P

I did that, I found an isopod, it wasn't the evil kind with huge eyes but Iw as still wary of putting it back in my tank so I put it in the pico to give my sexy shrimp something new to look at. :)

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The one I kept actually made a dive at me. it got my thumb, I got out before it could bite and that was how I caught the thing.

This thing I have looks like something that would try to bite me! Good thing it can't jump out of that glass. It's still going strong sitting in 1/4" of water on my kitchen counter.

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