"It's a cirolanid isopod and a fish killer"

[copi]

Some time ago on the saltwater ID board, a photo I took was identified as follows:

It's a cirolanid isopod and a fish killer. It needs to be removed.

I removed the isopod as instructed, then didn't think anything of it because I was told it was rare to receive even one, and I likely didn't have any more.

I recently added a firefish blenny to this tank -- added him near lights-out time. When I woke up the next morning, I found another isopod attached to the fish. The fish did not survive.

Is it likely that I have some type of infestation? Is it possible that they'll be reproducing? I haven't seen any others, but I'm sure they hide well. The only other fish, a royal gramma, has never shown signs of being munched on. Is this to be worried about?

I've read the wetwebmedia.com postings on isopods, but I feel like they don't give me the kind of information I'm looking for.

Thanks in advance.

 

[JPloman]

Oh my. I am so sorry to hear about your loss. I would say that the answer is yes. If there are still isopods attacking your fish, you more than likely have some sort of infestation.

I do not know how you would get rid of them other than to manually remove them. Maybe there is some sort of isopod killer that you can dump in the tank.

I am going to keep watching this thread. This should be very educational.

Once again, I am sorry about your loss.

 

[Fluff]

I don't think sighting two isopods indicates an infestation. I don't know about them reproducing but, there has been alot of threads lately about recieving them in live rock orders. I think they are more typical than originally thought. I got two orders, 20lb ea of lr and both times got 4 and 5 isopods. Manual removal as you see them is the only way I know of getting rid of them. Sorry for your loss.

 

[Gatorfreak]

I've never had them but I've read about several options:
- Starving them by going fishless for about 8 months.
- I've read somewhere before that there is some chemical that kills them but also kills many other tiny invertebrates (it's not copper though).
- Getting a hardy fish as bait and removing each isopod that attaches to the fish. Rinse and Repeat.

 

[klam]

I thought I've read somewhere to also use raw beef hearts to bait them during lights out