What is this? Pest ID Please

mhowe9 · Dec 3, 2008

Does anyone out there know what this is? Should I remove it (if I can catch it) or leave it alone. It was out on my live rock tonight.

AlexStinson · Dec 3, 2008

I have no idea what that is, but I would suggest removing it if you can, it just doesnt look safe

Smarsh · Dec 3, 2008

looks like an isopod, no idea if you should be worried about it or not. I know they can be predatory to some fish but not sure about all of them.

Sandy

cparka23 · Dec 3, 2008

I'm not too prideful to admit that big freakin' roaches scare the crap out of me.. and now I have to start looking out for them in my reef too?!

rarelyseriousb · Dec 4, 2008

thanks for the nightmares.

mhowe9 · Dec 5, 2008

Sorry for the nightmares/worries. I haven't seen him since I took the pic of him. Lucky I was messing around with my camera at the time. Since I have some time today, I am going to try and get him out.

mhowe9 · Dec 5, 2008

I have tried a couple of methods to remove and have been unsuccessful.

I was do some researching today and found an interesting and very helpful article.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-05/rs/index.php

In looking at the article, it appears that this is some sort of idoreid isopod. In looking at the link in the article for idoreid isopods, this isopod seems to be more on an algea grazer and scavenger than a parasite. Also, I ruled cirolanid isopods since they were swimmer and this creature didn't appear to have the capability of swimming. I followed him around with the camera for about 5 mins and didn't show any signs of swimming.

Kate · Dec 5, 2008

It looks, for the most part, that they are algae eaters, but they are so creepy looking, I don wan emmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! ahhhhhhhhhhhhh, ew,,,,,,ew,,,,, ew, ew, ew, ew ew!:dribble:

mhowe9 · Dec 5, 2008

He seems pretty elusive. I haven't seen him since Wednesday night and have spent some time today trying to get him out of the rock.

cparka23 · Dec 5, 2008

I can't imagine how frustrating that must be, but the linked article you gave should give you some comfort in case you aren't able to catch the little guy. If it's a scavenger, you might try to trap it with a bit of bait.

Any clue how he got there in the first place?

mhowe9 · Dec 6, 2008

cparka23 said:
I can't imagine how frustrating that must be, but the linked article you gave should give you some comfort in case you aren't able to catch the little guy. If it's a scavenger, you might try to trap it with a bit of bait.

Any clue how he got there in the first place?

Last weekend I bought about 100 lbs of live rock for my tank. Recently upgraded from a 90 to a 180. I assume that he hitchhiked on one of pieces that I added.