External Parasite - Clowns

[rmorris_14]

I don’t have ich, the hypo is for the pods only.

Sorry about that. Ive read too many posts today and got confused as to which one I was on... Ill go have another cup of coffee and be on my way LOL.

 

[SaltyPotato]

Sorry about that. Ive read too many posts today and got confused as to which one I was on... Ill go have another cup of coffee and be on my way LOL.

To be fair, I did have ich… which I used hypo for 33 days to get rid of

reefings fun, we’re all having fun - SO MUCH FUN

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

according to what ive found, most parasitic Cirolanid ispods are obligate parasites and will starve after 2-6months without a host. So QT with copper and a fallow should work.

heres a pretty comprehensive guide I found on the subject

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

I always thought cirolanids were facultative parasites, or more accurately micropredators.

Here is a cool paper:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7124122/

Jay

 

[SlugSnorter]

I always thought cirolanids were facultative parasites, or more accurately micropredators.

Here is a cool paper:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7124122/

Jay

I think there are many species, some are obligate, others are not, and some aren't parasites at all.

Cool paper!

 

[SlugSnorter]

Fallow doesn’t work on these guys as long as you’re feeding the tank and copper isn’t an option in the display. I’ve read conflicting personal accounts on here from ones who said the only choice was nuking their tank and others saying the problem alleviated itself by trapping methods + wrasses.

i do have an ornate wrasse from TSM on the way. Hoping I can keep it manageable, if the problem persists. Hypo for a week will be the next play with the fish in another holding tank.

Cleaner Shrimp may help clean parasites on the fish too.

this may sound weird, but maybe introduce Ghost Flatworms. They predate on pods and amphipods, and don't really bother corals. Maybe they could help?

 

[SaltyPotato]

Cleaner Shrimp may help clean parasites on the fish too.

this may sound weird, but maybe introduce Ghost Flatworms. They predate on pods and amphipods, and don't really bother corals. Maybe they could help?

I got two off the glass last night with the stinky method and caught another off the clown this morning. They’re extremely tiny right now, like squinting to see.

Adding the wrasse today, but yeah, will add some cleaners too - I’m afraid the wrasse will get them as well. Ill be continuing the stinky method a few nights a week.

 

[SlugSnorter]

I got two off the glass last night with the stinky method and caught another off the clown this morning. They’re extremely tiny right now, like squinting to see.

Adding the wrasse today, but yeah, will add some cleaners too - I’m afraid the wrasse will get them as well. Ill be continuing the stinky method a few nights a week.

The Ghosts may eat them, your lfs may have some. The ghosts are harmless, I've got them in a 15 gallon and the pod pop is still going strong.

 

[Spare time]

I wonder if a cleaner wrasse or cleaner shrimp would pick these off

 

[Chrisv.]

What about interceptor?

 

[SlugSnorter]

I wonder if a cleaner wrasse or cleaner shrimp would pick these off

My concern with the wrasse is that it would get hit itself.

 

[SaltyPotato]

My concern with the wrasse is that it would get hit itself.

That is also my fear, interceptor will be somewhat difficult to get as I don’t have a dog but will try last resort. It doesn’t seem DR Gs will work on pods from what I’ve read here.

 

[SlugSnorter]

That is also my fear, interceptor will be somewhat difficult to get as I don’t have a dog but will try last resort. It doesn’t seem DR Gs will work on pods from what I’ve read here.

doesn't that stuff just work on worms?

Apparently Formaldehyde/formalin also kills them.

This is on brackish water, but should still be at least somewhat applicable

 

[SaltyPotato]

I’m a fan

 

[Chrisv.]

doesn't that stuff just work on worms?

Apparently Formaldehyde/formalin also kills them.

This is on brackish water, but should still be at least somewhat applicable

No. It it's commonly used to treat red bugs.

 

[JoJosReef]

Did you get all of them? I ready somewhere that a person using stinky trap method ditched the trap and just went with squirting the stinky water right on the glass with a turkey baster and then sucking them up when they came out for it.

Keep an eye out for Eunice worms, too. They seem pretty common on the gulf rocks. The ocean has the most horrific things!

 

[LegalReefer]

If you have a quarantine system, and are willing to make a small sacrifice of a saltwater-conditioned molly, get all your fish out and treat them in quarantine for isopods. Put in a molly, the remaining isopods will flock to the poor baitfish, and then you can just remove the molly and treat.