death to isopods "study"

[mallorieGgator]

So, since I have been so blessed by these wonderful cirolandin isopods in my brand new tank, I will be running some tests (sorry if they aren't very thorough) on them and my tank. So tag along, maybe we can learn some stuff, and maybe find a cheaper way of killing these things.

[Mavrk]

Good luck.

[mallorieGgator]

Test #1
Removed 5 juvenile isopods from tank.
Placed 3 in seperate cups.
Used formalin in each cup at differect concentrations. Found that the one that worked came out to something crazy like I'd have to use over a gallon in my system to kill everything...bleach might as well be an option then.

Test #2
Tried melafix...no... lol

Test #3
Used 2 isopods
One in each cup.
1/2 cup of water per cup.
One cup 5 drops of cat dewormer- appeared dead after 2 minutes-revived in fresh salt water!
One cup 10 drops of cat dewormer- dead after 1 minute- did not revive in fresh salt water
So, seems like a good option right? Until you do the math and realize it comes out to be about a gallon of this stuff for my 60 gallons of tank water. I had a 160mL bottle which equals 2 drops per cup. So, just poured it in the tank and we'll see what happens. A few isopods appeared uncomfortable- swimming irradically (more than normal), others still clinging to the tank walls.

That's what I have so far. If this doesn't work, I will be trying a few other ideas I have before I bite the bullet and spend a crap ton of money on interceptor.

[Palting]

Cat dewormer??? Where did you even get the idea?? LOL!!!!!

This should be fun!

[mallorieGgator]

lol, went to Wal-mart looking for ivermectin because I thought this walmart out in BFE would have a horse section but they didn't so I didn't want to leave defeated...so cat dewormer was an option. lol!

[Tony78]

Originally Posted by mallorieGgator

lol, went to Wal-mart looking for ivermectin because I thought this walmart out in BFE would have a horse section but they didn't so I didn't want to leave defeated...so cat dewormer was an option. lol!

LMAO.

Next tests...
1. various grades of Octane gasoline
2. some of my mom's cooking -that'll kill just about anything

[dots]

I been following your plight, you mention its new (tank).....how new and how much livestock is in the tank?

To find a suitable treatment, you should first start by becoming an expert to your enemy and see what its biological vulnerabilities are and what if any current modes of natural control are. Then you can begin to make educated guesses if levamasole or perhaps Interceptor (some methods for controlling SPS pests) would work on that species effectively.

For instance, while researching AEFW's I found that Levamisole works in a certain way just like your ivermectin.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levamisole

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milbemycin_oxime

Anyway, I had fun with that research and I am sure you will learn a ton yourself so you can pass it along to the rest of us.

(You can find Levamisole at Tractor Supply, but research its reef aquarium applications before using)

[RcToners]

Malorie,

No offense here so please dont get upset.

I told you all of this before in your other thread, I told you there is NO way to kill these things that is even somewhat practicle. I did all the research I possibly could on these just a couple of weeks ago, that included but was not limited to heading up to the miami sea aquarium and speaking with there staff considering these are very common in florida waters.

I told you exactly what they were from your very first picture while others in your thread wanted to debate about it. I told you that you can trap them over several months or nuke the tank. I am not trying to be mean but it would be much easier for you to just nuke the tank considering your not even done with your cycle yet.

[Brisc0]

Anyone else Noticing how many posts are Popping up about these SOBs lately? Maybe a fluke, but seems like I am seeing a new post per week about cirolainids.

[olemiss reb]

I had cirolanids in a 55 a few years back. I broke down the tank, threw away the sand, cooked the rock, and started from scratch. They can be removed but I found cooking the rock much easier. This may help if you have not seen it yet.---

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

[RcToners]

Originally Posted by Brisc0

Anyone else Noticing how many posts are Popping up about these SOBs lately? Maybe a fluke, but seems like I am seeing a new post per week about cirolainids.

In the last couple of weeks there has been myself, you and malorie that have ended up with these.

From all of the research I did on these it appears as though they are very very common in florida along the coast in shallow water. Because these are so hard to kill they seem to make it into our tanks via live rock that only sat out of water for a couple of days. In the ocean these are not such a big problem as they will simply attach to a fish at night and drop off in the morning. Because the fish have such a large area to swim in they can simply move away from the problem but in our tanks the fish have no where to go.

I know there are some live rock vendors that aquaculture there rock in florida but I am not 100% sure of the location, if it was to close to shore it would be one I would avoid. I also know that there are several shady fish stores throughout florida that could simply be taking rock illegally from shore and selling it as live aquacultured rock.

I see alot of people complain about florida rock but what they dont understand is that they are not actually getting florida rock because its illegal, they are getting rock that was mined somewhere else and thrown in the water here in florida to seed, it really depends on the location of the seeding that determines the bad hitchikers such as these.

[A sea K]

Originally Posted by RcToners

Malorie,

No offense here so please dont get upset.

I told you all of this before in your other thread, I told you there is NO way to kill these things that is even somewhat practicle. I did all the research I possibly could on these just a couple of weeks ago, that included but was not limited to heading up to the miami sea aquarium and speaking with there staff considering these are very common in florida waters.

I told you exactly what they were from your very first picture while others in your thread wanted to debate about it. I told you that you can trap them over several months or nuke the tank. I am not trying to be mean but it would be much easier for you to just nuke the tank considering your not even done with your cycle yet.

Whoa dude, take a pill! Pretty sure she is doing her best to make lite of a bad situation, and personally I'm enjoying her humor. Your disclamer of "no offense" doesn't carry any weight when, IMO, you are being overly harsh. I also believe she gets your point not to mention the fact that cat dewormer is in no way a practical approach to eradicate these pests, it is however outrageously funny

[mallorieGgator]

Originally Posted by RcToners

Malorie,

No offense here so please dont get upset.

I told you all of this before in your other thread, I told you there is NO way to kill these things that is even somewhat practicle. I did all the research I possibly could on these just a couple of weeks ago, that included but was not limited to heading up to the miami sea aquarium and speaking with there staff considering these are very common in florida waters.

I told you exactly what they were from your very first picture while others in your thread wanted to debate about it. I told you that you can trap them over several months or nuke the tank. I am not trying to be mean but it would be much easier for you to just nuke the tank considering your not even done with your cycle yet.

I do understand your posts and I thank you for helping me . However, as someone going to school for animal biology, I have to stop and think, there HAS to be another way. How do you know there isn't? Have you tried it? How many people actually have tried killing these with other options? Maybe I'm being stubborn but I like learning new things, trying new techniques, being "different". That's what makes me want to be a scientist and that's what I'm at school for. Yeah, my techniques may be soooo off but who cares? There's nothing in my tank to get hurt other than a few snails and crabs that came on the rock. Everything I've tried has been either free, or under $3.00 so IMO, it's worth it. I would rather make a "lesson" out of this situation then to just say eff it and do what works. lol!

[mallorieGgator]

Originally Posted by dots

I been following your plight, you mention its new (tank).....how new and how much livestock is in the tank?

To find a suitable treatment, you should first start by becoming an expert to your enemy and see what its biological vulnerabilities are and what if any current modes of natural control are. Then you can begin to make educated guesses if levamasole or perhaps Interceptor (some methods for controlling SPS pests) would work on that species effectively.

For instance, while researching AEFW's I found that Levamisole works in a certain way just like your ivermectin.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levamisole

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milbemycin_oxime

Anyway, I had fun with that research and I am sure you will learn a ton yourself so you can pass it along to the rest of us.

(You can find Levamisole at Tractor Supply, but research its reef aquarium applications before using)

Thanks Dot! Levamisole may be an option. Just trying to stay away from interceptor if I can because it's REALLY expensive at the vet office I volunteer at ( we cater to rich old people ).

[streak]

hang a second.. There was an article about a guy trying to kill misquto larva using low votage rods spaced about 6" apart using no pestisides.. and it was 100% affective.. now if you can move fish and corals inverts out.. you might outta test to see since saltwater is 10 times more conductive than freshwater.. Im not saying hey grab a 600 amp car battery and go for worms obously WARNING could get you KILLED some CAUTION here.. but try it in a cup with a old trusty 6 volt battery and 2 electodes see if you can zap the suckers to death. it was invented by a 14 year old kid if i remember right..

[mallorieGgator]

lol, sounds interesting! May have to try that. How do you make or where do you get them?

[RcToners]

Originally Posted by A sea K

Whoa dude, take a pill! Pretty sure she is doing her best to make lite of a bad situation, and personally I'm enjoying her humor. Your disclamer of "no offense" doesn't carry any weight when, IMO, you are being overly harsh. I also believe she gets your point not to mention the fact that cat dewormer is in no way a practical approach to eradicate these pests, it is however outrageously funny

Everyone has there opinion.

If you knew about these pests you would know that cat wormer may have actually been a practical approach considering interceptor is a dog heart dewormer and is a great treatment for red bugs and cirolanid isopods currently dog dewormer is the only viable option for us that doesnt kill everything in the tank, just most of it.

[theatrus]

Originally Posted by mallorieGgator

Thanks Dot! Levamisole may be an option. Just trying to stay away from interceptor if I can because it's REALLY expensive at the vet office I volunteer at ( we cater to rich old people ).

AFAIK, its hard to acquire Levamisole now. I used it a few years ago to nuke montipora eating nudibranchs with great success. I was able to do it in dip form, not whole tank form. The upside is that its use in livestock makes it "relatively" cheap.

[chimmike]

while the pack of interceptor may be pricey, to do your whole tank should take at most 1/2 to 3/4 of a tab.

[mallorieGgator]

Mike that would be a red bug dose. The dose for isopods in 30+X that.

Also, RCToner my tank has cycled. It's alittle over a month old now as well. It's a shame to do all of this because a large population of amphipods have taken up residence in the tank now. but, I guess it's worth it in the long run.
Tomorrow I will raise pH to 10 for 2 days and see what that does. Wish me luck!

[Tony78]

Mallorie, as I mentioned earlier... my mom's casserole will kill anything. I'd be happy to send you a tupperware full for your isopod research. If it doesn't kill them as a food source....you can use a brick of it to clobber and smash the little buggers.

[RcToners]

Originally Posted by mallorieGgator

Mike that would be a red bug dose. The dose for isopods in 30+X that.

Also, RCToner my tank has cycled. It's alittle over a month old now as well. It's a shame to do all of this because a large population of amphipods have taken up residence in the tank now. but, I guess it's worth it in the long run.
Tomorrow I will raise pH to 10 for 2 days and see what that does. Wish me luck!

My apologies I did not know you were done with your cycle
Such a bummer

I think I was only done with my cycle for about a week or so when I nuked the tank. Honestly although I lost all my life in the tank and on the rocks I was suprised at how many I found after. I must have seen several hundred floating, It took about 2 or 3 days to start seeing them floating. I really wish there was an easy way to kill them as I kind of fear there are alot more people out there losing fish and they just dont know its these little buggers.

[Paco]

Originally Posted by mallorieGgator

Tomorrow I will raise pH to 10 for 2 days and see what that does. Wish me luck!

Good luck. I am unaware of any practical way to achieve this without turning the entire tank toxic, or by so raising the alkalinity as to kill things by virtue of high alk, not high pH.

[mallorieGgator]

UPDATE!
Just checked my tank and usually the isopods are out in full force around 11:30 (they come out like clock-work). Don't want to jinx this but there are no alive isopods out. I found one and it was dead, like really dead. lol.

[dots]

Originally Posted by theatrus

AFAIK, its hard to acquire Levamisole now. I used it a few years ago to nuke montipora eating nudibranchs with great success. I was able to do it in dip form, not whole tank form. The upside is that its use in livestock makes it "relatively" cheap.

Tractor Supply carries it in powdered form.

But really, if the tank is nearly empty....just nuke it and start over, it would be worth the wait if you didn't and they were not eradicated.


I am sorry to say....but this isn't exactly a cheap hobby to begin with.....