ISOPOD!!!

[duke12]

Yes, I just found out a few days ago when I posted a question about a creature in my tank that it was indeed an isopod. Fortunately, I discovered this before I had any fish in my tank. I still don't have any in there, but I heard that the only way to get rid of it was to put an inexpensive fish in, let the isopod attach itself to the fish, remove the fish, and then remove the isopod from the fish with tweezers. Is this the only way to catch this critter? If so, what type of fish should I use, and will the fish survive after I remove the isopod?

[Raszagil]

GAH!

Man that sucks. Can't you just starve it out? Maybe wait a month before adding fish? You could concentrate on buying corals during that time. Or you could wait a week, then spend some time with your hand in the tank like say for a few hours...heh...

Raz

[MiNdErAsR]

I wouldn't place any fish in your tank. If you can't catch the fish, and the isopod(s) breed (and they will, like roaches!), you'll be in deep detritus. Chances are, if you have one, your have more.

According to Dr. Ron Shimek, cirolanids only eat live fish. They live in the sand, and are nocturnal hunters. It will take about three months to starve them out.

If you search the UBB archives at reefs.org, you will find a few posts by Doc Ron on this very subject.

I feel for you man. I'm going thru the same thing. Four months with no fish, and I haven't seen a single one. Thankfully it's a new tank setup, and I had already planned on adding fish last.

Good luck.

------------------
Jim Fox
http://www.nycas.com/jfox

In the sea of life, you're just a minnow...you live your life, insecure...