Need Help with bad Pod on my Goby!

kcsnook · 02/02/2010, 08:30 PM

Came home from work today to find a Pod the size of a Tic-Tac on my Diamond Goby's tail. Yes it has black eyes....

What are my options and what can be done?

My tank has been up for about 6 months, No other fish are visibly affected. I really hope there is a fix...Any help is appreciated!

Octoshark · 02/02/2010, 08:51 PM

Sounds like an amphipod (they are much bigger than copepods), do you have a pic? Is it actually harassing the goby? What exactly is it doing?

Most amphipods are detritivores

bunzaroo · 02/02/2010, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Octoshark

Sounds like an amphipod (they are much bigger than copepods), do you have a pic? Is it actually harassing the goby? What exactly is it doing?

Most amphipods are detritivores

I had the same problem w/my Yellow Tang and clownfish. On the yellow tang it was on the upper fin, it just a fell off after one day, left a tiny mark. On the clownfish I actually netted the fish and w/ forceps nudged the sucker off, it did some damage to the scales but clownfish are tough.

Shane Hoffman · 02/02/2010, 09:08 PM

It is a parisitic pod and is living off of your fish. I would try to net the fish and manually remove it with tweezers if you can. They can stress fish out and make them sick.

kcsnook · 02/02/2010, 09:08 PM

It was on his tail near where his scales start. He was swimming around like normal sifting sand doing his thing, this pod was along for the ride. I was fearing he was going to burrow into his skin if I waited too long. I just went in and turned on the lights and netted him and the critter came off in the net and I disposed of him to the Porcelain Gods.

I have only seen one other guy this size and I got him out but that was months ago. The Goby had been making a burrow under a rock I was thinking he probably got on him then. I will keep an eye on this moving forward.

bertoni · 02/02/2010, 09:09 PM

It's likely a parasitic isopod. Shane's advise is pretty good. I might try a freshwater dip first.

kcsnook · 02/02/2010, 09:15 PM

Are the parasitic pods fairly common? I did read that they can come with Live Rock. Thanks for the help, this is the first time I have seen this. The Goby didnt seem bothered but it only appeared in the last 12 hrs. Gone now!

bertoni · 02/02/2010, 10:04 PM

They don't seem all that common, but they do show up from time to time.

dudley moray · 02/02/2010, 10:25 PM

+1 for isopod

jflick345 · 02/03/2010, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bertoni

It's likely a parasitic isopod. Shane's advise is pretty good. I might try a freshwater dip first.

+1 On the dip first. It's kind of amazing how quickly inverts react.

kcsnook · 02/03/2010, 07:53 AM

Thanks for the help guys, He was doing fine this morning.

02/02/2010, 08:30 PM	#1
kcsnook Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Pinellas County Posts: 974	Need Help with bad Pod on my Goby! Came home from work today to find a Pod the size of a Tic-Tac on my Diamond Goby's tail. Yes it has black eyes.... What are my options and what can be done? My tank has been up for about 6 months, No other fish are visibly affected. I really hope there is a fix...Any help is appreciated!

02/02/2010, 08:51 PM	#2
Octoshark Marine Biology Student Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: California Posts: 1,366	Sounds like an amphipod (they are much bigger than copepods), do you have a pic? Is it actually harassing the goby? What exactly is it doing? Most amphipods are detritivores __________________ "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal."

02/02/2010, 09:08 PM	#4
Shane Hoffman Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: 45 mins from Chicago Posts: 2,009	It is a parisitic pod and is living off of your fish. I would try to net the fish and manually remove it with tweezers if you can. They can stress fish out and make them sick. __________________ A wise man once said "Never play leap frog with a unicorn" Current Tank Info: 150 gallon glass with 20 gallon sump, 175lbs of coraline covered live rock, EuroReef skimmer rated for 250gal, 25watt Aqua UV sterilizer, Fluval FX5, Hamilton 3x250watt MH, 160 watt Blue actinic....Mixed reef

02/02/2010, 09:08 PM	#5
kcsnook Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Pinellas County Posts: 974	Pod on Goby It was on his tail near where his scales start. He was swimming around like normal sifting sand doing his thing, this pod was along for the ride. I was fearing he was going to burrow into his skin if I waited too long. I just went in and turned on the lights and netted him and the critter came off in the net and I disposed of him to the Porcelain Gods. I have only seen one other guy this size and I got him out but that was months ago. The Goby had been making a burrow under a rock I was thinking he probably got on him then. I will keep an eye on this moving forward.

02/02/2010, 09:09 PM	#6
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	It's likely a parasitic isopod. Shane's advise is pretty good. I might try a freshwater dip first. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

02/02/2010, 09:15 PM	#7
kcsnook Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Pinellas County Posts: 974	Are the parasitic pods fairly common? I did read that they can come with Live Rock. Thanks for the help, this is the first time I have seen this. The Goby didnt seem bothered but it only appeared in the last 12 hrs. Gone now! Last edited by kcsnook; 02/02/2010 at 09:27 PM.

02/02/2010, 10:04 PM	#8
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	They don't seem all that common, but they do show up from time to time. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

02/02/2010, 10:25 PM	#9
dudley moray sisternofuselessknowledge Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: orillia ontario Posts: 795	+1 for isopod __________________ We urge hobbyists to develop a good 'BS' detector that will allow you to question information presented to you without any experimental evidence to support it. chris Current Tank Info: 90 gal south pacific biotope 40 gal sump/fuge ,65 gal rebuilding

02/03/2010, 07:53 AM	#11
kcsnook Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Pinellas County Posts: 974	Thanks for the help guys, He was doing fine this morning. __________________ "The trouble with weather forecasting is that it's right too often for us to ignore it and wrong too often for us to rely on it" Current Tank Info: 154 Gallon Coast to Coast Custom powered by Geisemann - Mixed Reef w Warner Marine skimmer, Dart Gold, 2 x MP-40w, MR1, GHL Dosers, Apex