ID needed Night Soldiers

[Hurricane Aquatics]

Hey all,

Yea, funny title, but I can't say I have ever seen these on all my reefing years that I remember anyway.

When the lights go out, I have About 50 of these that gather on the back if the tank. I have normal pods, but these look ominous.

The squid looking one is a bit freaky. Any idea of their ID?

 

[Isopod80]

Those are isopods.

 

[Hurricane Aquatics]

Good or bad? No idea where they came from.

 

[Isopod80]

Good or bad? No idea where they came from.

They appear to be Sphaeromatid isopods. If so, they are harmless. They come in as hitchhikers.

 

[Isopod80]

The Cirolanid isopods are the bad ones. They have larger eyes than sphaeromatid and the eyes are located more toward the front of the head. Sphaeromatids have small eyes usually more toward the sides of the head. That gnarly looking one appears to be a male Sphaeromatid, the others female. Cirolanid eyes make them look like they're wearing black swim goggles if that helps. Honestly, if you had about 50 Cirolanid pods in your tank, you'd be seeing problems by now. Consider yours part of the clean up crew.

 

[Hurricane Aquatics]

Appreciate the quick response!

Interestingly, I dipped every Frag I received from WWC and Liveaquaria and my rock was the Carib Sea dry kind. Crazy how they can get in.

 

[Isopod80]

Yup, you never know. Always good to check the tank at night from time to time. Never know what you'll find.