Isopod on head?

[Klag]

I woke up this morning to my friend having what I assume is an isopod on his head? What should I do about this?

 

[Klag]

He doesn’t seem to bothered by it at the moment

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

Pretty sure that's parasitic (@ISpeakForTheSeas?) You'll most likely want to remove that ( #fishmedic )

 

[vetteguy53081]

I woke up this morning to my friend having what I assume is an isopod on his head? What should I do about this?

It is and hopefully only one on the head. You can start with a 5 minute freshwater dip with aeration, the same temperature as display tank which will often cause it to dislodge. Hopefully its the only one in the tank.
If the isopod does not dislodge, some resort to carefully removing which tweezers which I do noy recommend as it will leave a wound.

@Jay Hemdal

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I woke up this morning to my friend having what I assume is an isopod on his head? What should I do about this?

Tough to see clearly, but that might be a Cirolanid isopod. These are "micro predators" in some aquariums. Usually, we see them in aquariums that have had live rock from Florida added. Here is a thread about that:

Cirolanid isopods? ID?

I bought some Live Rock from Tampa Bay Saltwater and I noticed an isopod dead at the bottom of the shipping box so I decided to set a trap and see if I had the cirolanid isopods that seem pretty common with Florida aquacultured rock. I caught about 10 the first night and have caught 5-8 from...

www.reef2reef.com

Jay

 

[Klag]

Tough to see clearly, but that might be a Cirolanid isopod. These are "micro predators" in some aquariums. Usually, we see them in aquariums that have had live rock from Florida added. Here is a thread about that:

Cirolanid isopods? ID?

I bought some Live Rock from Tampa Bay Saltwater and I noticed an isopod dead at the bottom of the shipping box so I decided to set a trap and see if I had the cirolanid isopods that seem pretty common with Florida aquacultured rock. I caught about 10 the first night and have caught 5-8 from...

www.reef2reef.com

Jay

I got my live rock from Tampa Bay Saltwater if that gives any insight

 

[Klag]

It is and hopefully only one on the head. You can start with a 5 minute freshwater dip with aeration, the same temperature as display tank which will often cause it to dislodge. Hopefully its the only one in the tank.
If the isopod does not dislodge, some resort to carefully removing which tweezers which I do noy recommend as it will leave a wound.

@Jay Hemdal

Thank you for the advice!

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Yeah, parasite or micro-predator, it's not one you want in your tank long - tweezers/pliers and baited traps are the methods I've heard of for removal.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I got my live rock from Tampa Bay Saltwater if that gives any insight

Again, you can try FW dip, but no guarantee as the critters has little hooks they must release as they may be feeding on a blood vessel. If cirolanid, they have very visible pair of antennas

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I got my live rock from Tampa Bay Saltwater if that gives any insight

Yep - thats what that is then. They even have a note about these isopods on their web site.
Most people trap them out of their tanks.