Id this Isopod...Freind or foe?

[Avast Marine]

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]

ya im pretty sure that all isopods are bad..... White spots you got me.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

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
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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]

<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)

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

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]

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]

The picture you posted could be a type of Hydroid. Do you notice anything, especially sessile invertebrates, that retract away from this?

 

[Avast Marine]

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]

I have no idea what the exact name is but thats definatly a foram, not hydroids.

 

[JJohn]

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]

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]

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]

<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]

Is there anything that will eat the Sphaeromatid Isopod?

 

[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.

 

[greenbean36191]

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]

<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]

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]

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]

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...