Help - critter on clown

Help!! I got two clown fish yesterday, and today I woke up and one had this critter on his fin. I'm new to the hobby, but this poor lil guys (the clown) isn't as "excited" swimming around anymore and hangs one the side by the heater. What is this critter, and how can I get him off? I don't want my clown to die.


Hopefully this pic will show up, if not it is in my gallery. Thanks guys!

 

Wow. I really have no idea. Maybe Tangster will chime in with an answer. But I never seen anything like that before.

 

Crap. Looks like you've got yourself a parasitic isopod there. Not good news Let me dig up some links for you.

Edit: Here's one for starters Pills, Parasites, and Predators; Isopods in the Reef Aquarium by Ronald L. Shimek, Ph.D. - Reefkeeping.com

 

Any info, help and ideas will be much appreciated

 

the pic is a little blured but it could be an isopod. check these links
Reef Central Online Community - It's living inside my frogfish!!!
Need Cirolanid advice

If so get it off brfore it eats it's way in
Al

 

The only solution, I believe, is to remove your fish from the main tank and let the main tank go fishless for the lifecycle of the parasite. Not sure about removing the isopod from your clown but maybe you can find more info on the other links provided.

And yet another reason why I despise live rock. Karma for your troubles.

 

Looks like am Isopod from the links that were sent. I took the clown out and put him in a small bowl, i want to give him a little time before I go after it with the tweezers, it looks like it is on there good.

If I have one in my tank - how likely am I to have more, and is there anyway beside hunting for them to find/eliminate them??

Thank you all for your help so far

 

From what I've read, it is entirely possible that you have more than one isopod. The only way to positively know if you have more in the tank is to sacrifice a live fish as "bait". I'm not sure if you can see them by looking in the tank when the lights are off but it can't hurt to try. The only real way to play it safe is to let the tank go fishless for the life cycle of the parasite.

 

A friend of mine is in the link i sent you about the frog fish. It happened this week. His main tank will be empty of fish for 8 weeks. He put his frog fish in a hyposalinty Qt Tank (1.009) same as you can do for ick. The isopod released on its own. He has a cool video of the little bugger. You will need a strong broad spectrum antibiotic to ward off secondary infections.
Al

 

Well I took the isopod off with tweezers, and the fish doesn't look too damaged. I put it back in the main tank, since I only have one other clown. It is now spending most of its time towards the bottom, but is still fighting.I figured if he is spending his time near the sand not moving other iso's will find him if they are in there. I did find another isopod but it was in the tube of my powerhead. Both the iso's are in a cup of soap. That way I can take a closer look at the little buggers later. Thank you all for your help, keep your fingers crossed for both my clown, and no more unwelcomed critters.