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View Full Version : Id this Isopod...Freind or foe?


Avast Marine
08/17/2006, 03:12 PM
These have been in my tank for 3 months now (no fish). I assumed they were a parasite and would die off with no host, but now I see babies in the tank.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/217936603/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/64/217936603_1f98a2367f_b.jpg" width="1024" height="958" alt="isopod" /></a>

and while I have you here......how bout these white spots that were on my snails and now are starting to show up on the rocks?

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/217936601/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/90/217936601_c1faa853b1_o.jpg" width="600" height="483" alt="whitespotsnail" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/217936599/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/68/217936599_cd2dfa899b_o.jpg" width="600" height="501" alt="whitespotrock" /></a>

Thanks guys.

masterqaz
08/17/2006, 03:25 PM
ya im pretty sure that all isopods are bad..... White spots you got me.

Travis L. Stevens
08/17/2006, 03:30 PM
The Isopod is a good guy. It looks like you have a Sphaeromatid Isopod. And a male at that fact. Read this article for more information - http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-05/rs/index.php

----------Abstract----------
Sphaeromatids are small bugs, generally less than a centimeter in length. They are common scavengers in many shallow marine environments, including coral reefs, and they are harmless to reef aquarium inhabitants. They can be recognized immediately by a couple of distinctive characters. First, each individual has the capability to roll into a ball-like terrestrial pill bug. None of the other isopods likely to be found aquaria will be able do that. Second, when examined with a hand lens or magnifying glass, the last pair of appendages of the males are expanded and extend to the rear, like small rudders or the fins on a 1959 Caddy. Females lack these extensions, but if some of the isopods are seen with them, that is usually a good indication that the rest of them are also Sphaeromatids.

More information about, and some gorgeous pictures of, Sphaeromatids may be found by following these links: 1 2 3 4
-----------------------------------

The spots are Money Forams; a type of Formaniferan. I think that's what those were called. I'll have to look it up when I get home. All you need to know is that they are harmless but it is a sign that your tank has excess nutrients for them to feed off of.

Travis L. Stevens
08/17/2006, 03:33 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7959866#post7959866 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by masterqaz
ya im pretty sure that all isopods are bad..... White spots you got me.

Actually, most Isopods are harmless.....Unless you meet up with this guy

Giant Deep Sea Isopod (Bathynomus giganteus)
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/04etta/background/isopods/bathynomus_giganticus_220.jpg

Travis L. Stevens
08/17/2006, 03:35 PM
Also, if you will notice, your Formaniferans will move. Look at where they are and then leave for a few hours. They will have moved. They move amazing distances over night especially since they are a single celled organism with a hard outter surface.

Avast Marine
08/17/2006, 03:43 PM
Man I must have a Formaniferan lovin tank, I took this a while back

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/196597289/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/65/196597289_ca2ffe36b3_o.jpg" width="816" height="880" alt="noidea" /></a>

I don't really have excess nutrients in the tank that I am aware of nitrates under 5ppm and no dectectable Po4.

Travis, I had seen that pic before while researching these, pretty crazy! It's good to know that these are not parasites because at the rate they are breeding it I was thinking I my be in for a fishless reef for quite some time.

Travis L. Stevens
08/17/2006, 03:47 PM
The picture you posted could be a type of Hydroid. Do you notice anything, especially sessile invertebrates, that retract away from this?

Avast Marine
08/17/2006, 04:06 PM
I couldn't say either way. It is in a spot of the tank that doesn't see much action (maybe there is a reason). It is about 1/2" in size. I was told it was a Red Foram Homotrema rubrum?

Tat2demon
08/17/2006, 08:53 PM
I have no idea what the exact name is but thats definatly a foram, not hydroids.

JJohn
08/17/2006, 09:18 PM
I too have some of those white dots. What are they. I assumed they were snail eggs or something like that. They are on my back glass and on a rock or two. Any ideas?

John

Avast Marine
08/17/2006, 09:41 PM
Travis ID' this as a Money Formaniferan. I couldn't find anything on the search engines to confirm it. As far as being on the glass these are limited to the rock and snail shells and about the same size as a pin head.

mr pink floyd
08/17/2006, 09:47 PM
wait, that red thing with the spikey white things, what are those?

i had some hitch hike on some LR from a club member, it thought it looked cool, havent seen much growth, but if its bad ill go kalk it out ASAP

Avast Marine
08/17/2006, 10:02 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7962355#post7962355 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mr pink floyd
wait, that red thing with the spikey white things, what are those?

i had some hitch hike on some LR from a club member, it thought it looked cool, havent seen much growth, but if its bad ill go kalk it out ASAP

For the ID of the red thing with the spikey white things reread this thread. And no it's not bad.

Crash64
02/24/2007, 02:45 PM
Is there anything that will eat the Sphaeromatid Isopod?

greenbean36191
02/24/2007, 05:25 PM
I say the white spots are most likely snail eggs. If they're forams they'll be very hard if you poke them with your fingernail. If they're snail eggs they'll just be kind of leathery and give a little.

greenbean36191
02/24/2007, 05:26 PM
Is there anything that will eat the Sphaeromatid Isopod?
Yes, most fish will if they can fit them in their mouths, but why would you want them too?

Avast Marine
02/25/2007, 12:54 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9325442#post9325442 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by greenbean36191
I say the white spots are most likely snail eggs. If they're forams they'll be very hard if you poke them with your fingernail. If they're snail eggs they'll just be kind of leathery and give a little.

Well they have been on the snail for 6 months now so I'm not holding my breath on them hatching ;)

The isopods are actively breeding still in the fuges of both my tanks, I have 20 fish or so and all parasite free.

jdieck
02/25/2007, 01:24 AM
The white spots seem to come and go, whenever I get them I get a bloom of limpets so I shall assume those might be not snail eggs but limpet eggs. BTW they are not hard and can be wiped off the glass with the magnet.

Crash64
03/03/2007, 04:42 PM
I have Sphaeromatid Isopod's and they reproduce like jack rabbits. There unsightly to look at so I was hoping I could find something that will help keep them in check. You guys think that a mandrain will eat them?

Avast Marine
03/07/2007, 01:16 AM
These are way too large for a mandarin to eat. Ever since I added a Radiant Wrasse to the tank I only see the Isopods in the fuge. Don't know if thats just a coincidence or not since I have never seen him eat one, but none the less...

dga
03/07/2007, 02:43 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7959866#post7959866 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by masterqaz
ya im pretty sure that all isopods are bad..... White spots you got me.

many newbie readers need to be cautious of mis information like this.