What is this?
- Thread starter brynrey
- Start date
- Tagged users None
Okay that one's new to me. Does it seem attached to your clown?
mochaclownlover
Valuable Member
It's a parasitic isopod , put your fish in a QT and dose copper or do a fresh water dip and pluck it off, what ever you decide to do just get that monster off him!!!!!
Lionfish Lair
Renee
Cirolanid. I can't say I've seen too many pictures of them actually attached like that. FW dip, would be my recommendation too, but he may just leave as you're trying to catch the clown. Do it before he gets off.
mochaclownlover
Valuable Member
Just keep an eye on all your fish and you'll get him next time
Lionfish Lair
Renee
Ya, that's what I was hoping wouldn't happen. I agree with Mocha, just keep an eye out.
Keep your water quality up and the clown well fed, you don't want that broken skin to turn into an infection.
Assuming this is in your DT, the real problem you face now is you have a parasitic isopod (or multiples) on the loose which will continue to attack your fish. I don't have any actual experience with this particular problem, but the info below was gleaned after doing some research. Hopefully there is a better strategy out there than this:
Isopod Parasites (very rare):
Symptoms - These are more frequently seen on shrimp, but some species target fish. They are nocturnal and difficult to distinguish from beneficial amphipods you may have in your aquarium. So, the best way to detect their presence is to watch your fish for evidence of their existence. You will notice bite marks (it’s most evident on any yellow fish), or even the alarming sight of some attached to your fish when the lights first come on. There are even “tongue eating isopods.”
Treatment options - First, remove all fish (except one easy-to-catch yellow fish). The yellow fish will be used as “bait” to draw out and remove the isopods from the fish’s skin (by using tweezers). Rinse & repeat until there is no more evidence of fish-attacking isopods in your tank.
Isopod Parasites (very rare):
Symptoms - These are more frequently seen on shrimp, but some species target fish. They are nocturnal and difficult to distinguish from beneficial amphipods you may have in your aquarium. So, the best way to detect their presence is to watch your fish for evidence of their existence. You will notice bite marks (it’s most evident on any yellow fish), or even the alarming sight of some attached to your fish when the lights first come on. There are even “tongue eating isopods.”
Treatment options - First, remove all fish (except one easy-to-catch yellow fish). The yellow fish will be used as “bait” to draw out and remove the isopods from the fish’s skin (by using tweezers). Rinse & repeat until there is no more evidence of fish-attacking isopods in your tank.
A friend of mine encountered a tongue eating isopod on a wrasse once: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/tongue-eating-isopod.208068/
I ordered 3 flasher wrasses and a Copperband Butterfly from Bluezoo. All 4 fish were placed in QT. The Copperband didn't make it through the night and Bluezoo provided me with store credit. Unfortunately, one of the wrasses unexpectedly died today and when I pulled him out of the QT tank I noticed something in his mouth. I got a pair of tweezers and this is what I found!! One of the tongue eating variety!
Lionfish Lair
Renee
My WORD!!! I would have liked to have seen that.
