Is This A Parasite ?

[JARRETT SHARK]

I Just Bought A Xxl Puffer And Notice This On Him
I Tried To Pull It Off But Not Coming Off With A Pull Of My Finger. I Don't Know If This Thing Is GooD Or Bad?
If Its That Bad That I Should Take Him Out Of Tank And Try Ripping It Off But Nervous On Hurting Him. Whats Your Imput,

SORRY FOR BAD PICS BUT HE MOVES SO FAST

 

[marrone]

Not a good thing. I would take him out and remove it. I would then check and see if there are anymore. I would then QT for quite sometime to make sure there aren't anymore.

 

[JARRETT SHARK]

What Is It So I Can Read On It, Have No Qt Tank Due To His Size 20''

 

[Domboski]

Its a Parasitic isopod. There is lots of info about them on the web.

 

[JARRETT SHARK]

I Cant Find How To Get It Off ?

 

[Domboski]

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/parasiti.htm

Quote from the above link:

"Isopods, the "pill-bugs" or Rollie-pollies of your childhood are not so funny when they show up in your marine system. These crustaceans with "all about the same feet" are big enough to see and remove from the fish's mouth or body with forceps/tweezers."

I'd pull it off with a tweezers carefully. Then use a cotton swab or cotton ball to wipe the area down with hydrogen peroxide. Follow Mike's reco as well.

 

[Treef]

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

That's a good article on Isopods and how to remove them.

 

[marrone]

Here is a link:

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

You should be able to pull it off the fish with a part of tweezers or needle nose pliers. After removing it you're going to have to treat the fish for the wounds or it could become infected or get an bacteria infection.

Make sure none came off the fish and entered you tank, this is why you should QT all your fish as there are things a lot worst than ich.

 

[jejton]

I wonder if you could feed it to the puffer afterwards.

 

[wallysworld]

Looks like some sort of Sea louse. It IS parasitic. Get it off and check the gills. Thats where its headed. You see these sometime on small Bluefish while fish in the LI Sound. I take a pair of tweezers and rip it off and crush it. Kind of like a Tick...

Walter

 

[Aquatic Life Direct]

yup isopods, you can remove them with tweezers.

Where did you get that fish from?

 

[JARRETT SHARK]

I Tried To Pull It Off But It Seems Like His Fin Is Going To Rip Off. Should I Just Crush It?

 

[Domboski]

Dump peroxide on it and see if it lets go. If not, you may have to try crushing it (not going to be easy). Be sure to treat the area with peroxide when you are finished. Only takes a sec to do it and it makes a world of a difference.

 

[JARRETT SHARK]

How Long Do I Dab A Cotton Ball Of Peroxide On Him ?

 

[QUESTIONMARC]

its an isopod. you need to get him off. they are bad news.

 

[JARRETT SHARK]

I Guess I Have To Make Sure Nothing Gets In Gills Too

 

[CHEMCHEF]

Can you burn it off like a tick??? Soldering iron would work great

 

[JARRETT SHARK]

puffer

after 20 mis of trying to get the puffer out he blew up like a basketball. so i first crushed the isopod and pulled its body off, then I got his head off. the peroxide was very quick but got a little on, then got all cut up putting him back in the tank,hope my baby gets better, see pics of the parasite size and the scare it left on the puffer.

is there anything I could do if it gets infected ?

 

[Domboski]

Keep putting peroxide on it once or twice a day. It should be fine as long as you have good water params. I had a shark that wounded its nose and after putting peroxide on it a couple of times a day it was completely healed in less than a week.

 

[JARRETT SHARK]

I dont think i can get him out of the tank again, I have so mank ones in my fingers from the spike when he blew up.
i think I will keep a good eye in it first and if gets worse then the peroxide,
thanks all for you help...........