Isopods, removal

[islandguy85]

Brought some LR home a month or so ago and added it to the tank. Magically, isopods appear... That being said how can I remove them!?! They are intermittently attached to my foxface. I have seen 2, and they are getting bigger.
Biggest issue is that my tank is 2.5' deep, 150 gallon display, and the top stands at about 6'. Also, in setting up my tank I made the mistake of completely covering the back wall of tank with dry rock. Looks cool, but basically impossible to catch fish. Has anyone had any luck with fish traps or pod traps?

Thanks!

 

[Humblefish]

IME; there is no easy way of dealing with this. 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.

 

[islandguy85]

IME; there is no easy way of dealing with this. 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.

Thanks Humble, the whole catching part is the issue :) see pic of rock wall in tank (you can also see pod on foxface caudal dorsal fin) :

 

[Maritimer]

Cirolanids, IIRC, are a right pain.

Can you get the foxface into a trap? Remove the isopod, and set 'im out again. Kind of stinks to be using your fish as bait ... but the only other options I can think of would involve toxins that would wipe your liverock and tank of all invertebrate life.

~Bruce

 

[islandguy85]

Cirolanids, IIRC, are a right pain.

Can you get the foxface into a trap? Remove the isopod, and set 'im out again. Kind of stinks to be using your fish as bait ... but the only other options I can think of would involve toxins that would wipe your liverock and tank of all invertebrate life.

~Bruce

I am considering getting a trap but wasn't sure if it would work.

 

[Jose Mayo]

In aquaculture isopods respond well to ivermectin in feed at the dose below:

Isopoda and Copepoda: Ivermectin (Per os) 0.05 mg/kg /2 times/week OR 0.2 mg/kg once.

--> An overview of the treatments for parasitic disease in Mediterranean aquaculture

Keeping the temperature under observation, ivermectin can be toxic at low temperatures.

Best regards

 

[Maritimer]

I am considering getting a trap but wasn't sure if it would work.

You may be able to make one out of one of the inexpensive "Kritter Keepers" they sell at almost any pet shop. Transparent box, perforated plastic top, usually with a little clear door in the lid. You could use fishing line to tie to the little door, down through the perforated lid and out to your hand - bait with either food or a mirror (how territorial is Foxy?) or both, and wait . . .

~Bruce

 

[islandguy85]

You may be able to make one out of one of the inexpensive "Kritter Keepers" they sell at almost any pet shop. Transparent box, perforated plastic top, usually with a little clear door in the lid. You could use fishing line to tie to the little door, down through the perforated lid and out to your hand - bait with either food or a mirror (how territorial is Foxy?) or both, and wait . . .

~Bruce

Thanks for the suggestion. FF has been in the tank maybe 6 weeks. He is pretty timid and will hide quickly if pressured. I am considering trying to trap, but the pods are not always attached to fish. I work in veterinary field and could very easily get ivomec, as one of the other responses suggested. Are there other side affects w ivomec in system?

 

[Jose Mayo]

Aquarium Corals: Stony Coral Parasites: Red and Black Bugs: Identification Guide, Preventive Measures, and a Review of Treatment Protocols
By @Dana Riddle

"Ivermectin (Stromectol™, Ivomec™, HeartGard™, Iverhart Plus™, Tri-Heart Plus™ and Acarexx™)
Ivermectin is a treatment for lice, mites, ear mites and is also an antihelmitic (effective against roundworms, heartworms, and lungworms) in cattle and swine. It is also prescribed for humans as a treatment for Bancroft's filariasis and scabies.

Wright (2009) suggests this treatment protocol: Dissolve Ivomec (1% solution) in propylene gycol (an alcohol). Dose at 0.75 mg/l per gallon (actual volume). Wright's article used 34 mg in 45 gallons).

Turn off the protein skimmer, UV sterilizer, and canister filters and disperse the Ivomec solution in a strong stream of water within the aquarium. After 12 hours, filter water using fresh activated carbon and resume use of the protein skimmer and UV sterilization. Repeat this treatment every two weeks for a total of 3 times.

The author (Wright) cautions that this treatment might harm arthropods, mollusks, crustaceans, otherinvertebrates (I'm assuming he doesn't mean corals other than the Acropora specimen mentioned in the article) and angelfishes."

Best regards

 

[Maritimer]

Are there other side affects w ivomec in system?

Do you have any crustaceans you'd like to keep? Hermits, emerald crabs, any sort of shrimp, 'pods? I'd assume that Ivomec will wipe them out. What it might do to other invertebrates in your system ... I could only guess.

~Bruce

 

[islandguy85]

Do you have any crustaceans you'd like to keep? Hermits, emerald crabs, any sort of shrimp, 'pods? I'd assume that Ivomec will wipe them out. What it might do to other invertebrates in your system ... I could only guess.

~Bruce

I have a few hermits, as well as some live rock w possibly a few anenomes, tube worms, barnacles, etc. it is going to be a tough thing to get rid of unless I use some sort of chemical I believe. The pod is not constantly on the fish and will not be seen for a 5-7 days or so, then back for about 48 hrs. Does anyone know their reproductive cycle/ requirements? The most I have seen at one time is two. Maybe 3. Recently, only one. It is always possible that they can get pulled into my filtration system but I wouldn't ever know.

 

[Maritimer]

Stumbled across this earlier, an article on removing cirolanid isopods from an aquarium, in the writer's case, without fish: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/bp/index.php

Thought the info might help you . . .

~Bruce

 

[islandguy85]

I am going to try one of the trap suggestions in the article. If it works I will let yall know. Thanks Bruce.

 

[atoll]

I have removed these pests from fish using a sulphur match. You know the matches that have a red strike end. What I do after catching the fish is wet the end of the match in a little water until its slightly soft then apply the match head to the parasite rubbing it over it a little or just hold it against the parasite. I find within a couple of seconds the isopod drops off of its own accord. I then smear a little vaseline over the area to seal it from infection.

 

[islandguy85]

I have not seen them again since I started this post of course. I am guessing that maybe the 2 I had seen got pulled into filtration (or eaten?) as it has probably been a month or more since I have had any sign.
-my problem is being able to catch the fish. There is no real good way for me to with the way I have rocks set up. Rookie mistake. The only way I could catch is probably during a water change.

 

[Nathan Limbacher]

I just ran into the same problem yesterday. Started up my tank again after a while and wanted to try getting "real live rock".. one of those deals where they take it out of the gulf that morning and you pick it up at the air port. It has an amazing amount of life that came with it, but have been on pest patrol for the last 2 weeks pulled out gorilla crabs, spiders, and a mantis. I saw the isopods in there, but just assumed they were the not evil little jerk kind. Yesterday I went and picked up the first batch fish and put them into the tank with the lights off (part of the acclimation process), when I turned them back my two little clowns were covered in these large bugs. I immediately pulled them out and put them in a bucket of tank water (FYI flipping out at this point; Fish EMT mode). The only thing I could find on hand was coral dip I had lying around. I put coral dip in the bucket and stirred it around for a few mintues and bugs jumped off one of the clowns. I was able to get him back into the tank and he is swimming and happy at the moment. They never let go of the other and he quickly died. I pulled a few out with a net last night with a net. Current plan of attack is to pull them off the remaining clown as I notice them (Going to try the match method as posted above). I also have a cleaner wrasse coming tomorrow. The strange thing is they do not seem to be attacking my peppermint shrimp, green chromis, or bullet goby (yet at least).

 

[Apotack]

I made a trap. Cut the top off a a water bottle made a small hole in the cap, inverted the top and put into a small jar. Baited with some frozen mysis, leave it overnight. Worked great