Im going to have nightmares now.

[cowboyswife]

Brannon (Sytanek) and I just got a Cirolanid or Aegid isopod out of his tank. I was trying to bait and catch a rock crab, and when I looked into the glass with the bait in it, the little bugger was in there. He yanked the glass out, and we caught him. Ugh...such creepy little things! So yeah, let the nightmares commence. Im freaked out.

And maybe you guys can help me ID a worm I saw in there. It looked like an inch long thin piece of spagetti swimming around in the water. It was very very wiggley, and I couldnt catch him. Any ideas?

 

[chrisstie]

Oh oh i've had a swimmy worm too.. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=956534&highlight=chrisstie+worm see that thread

As far as the icky isopod.. I had found one when I was putting stuff into my QT tank and ditched it.. If you guys have put any of your wild caught stuff in be careful because they are out there..

I wouldn't worry too too too much though unless they are prolific or something? Did you find it on the rockwork or like, attached to a fishie?

 

[waterfaller1]

Be very careful with the cirolanid isopod, they are very difficult to eradicate. Generally when there is one..there will be more. They attach to the fish at night, and as soon as lights on they disappear into the rockwork. I know a hobbyist who stayed up nights on end to catch all of them in his tank.they can also attack the hobbyist, trying to attach to their arm or hand. :eek1:They are also very fast...and usually carrying eggs.
The worm in question could have been a ciratulid, they are the most common worm with fine hairlike strands.
pic of one of mine in the fuge

 

[waterfaller1]

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/bp/index.php

 

[DJChesnutRabbit]

That's one of the disadvantages of the rock he got.....So I've read. You tend to pick up alot more unwanted critters.
I read several posts and even their own site says to watch out for unwanted guests.

 

[cowboyswife]

Thanks for all the info you guys!! The unwanted hitchhikers are the only reason why I dont like TBS rock. I even hate sticking my hands in his tank because I dont know what's in there - Especially at night. And from what I can tell, it is a ribbon worm. Ew.

 

[chrisstie]

If you think sticking your hands in there is scary hahaha I guess I grew up with no fear.

Those isopods are like rolley polleys.. And I'd often find them living in among barnacles.

I'd have to get under a boat to clean off the barnacles and crap growing on it with a power water so we'd hang the boat by davits and i'd hop in the water with a shortie wetsuit (that fit back then eons ago!)

The barnacles would come off and all the slime and sludge that make painting difficult but ALL of the pods would come off too and swim to the nearest thing to cling to which was either the pilings of the dock near me, or me myself.

I'd have to run up to the shower and strip down and get them all unstuck from me YUCK.. it really doesn't bother me to have to see a bug in the tank and poke it or touch it after that. I think its called desensitizing? ;p

 

[cowboyswife]

Oh ewwwwwww! The idea of them getting stuck to me really freaks me out! *shudders* But then again, Im not much for creepy crawlies. Geez, I freaked out when Brannon's cleaner shrimp crawled on my hand the first time. My 4 year old has less fear than me! LOL