Pods biting my hand

[mr_alberta]

Has anyone ever had those little pods that come out at night bite their hands? I was tweaking my tank after lights out today and these little pods attacked my hand when it was in the tank. Felt like little bug/mosquito bites. They don't seem to bother the fish though...

[kris_willard]

YUP! Kinda hurts/startles you. Then you have to pick them ooff cuz they wont let go. I also had a 1-1/2" worm latch on to my finger, not i steer clear of the dark depths of my sump.

[Aquattro]

I'd get a close up pic of those (iso)pods and post it. I've never had any pods attack me before, and I spend a lot of time in my tank!!

[EmilyB]

[Bob I]

Originally Posted by reef_raf

I'spend a lot of time in my tank!!

I hope you wear a wetsuit.

[trilinearmipmap]

? cirolanid isopods

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Bob_I

I hope you wear a wetsuit.

No, but I have a great rash from over exposure to salt water!!

[andestang]

Looked in my copy of marine fish & reef magazine as I recalled reading about that and in its article on live rock hitchhikers it does mention that they will bite aquarists and even attack swimmers out in their natural enviroment.

[Lofus]

Its peobably the sea lice...

[mr_alberta]

Hmm, I'n not sure what they are, but they do look like the "fish lice" isopods. They don't bother any of the fish though (and I've had the same rocks with some of the fish for over a year).

They do go nuts if I do a night feeding or if I stick my hand in. The largest one I've seen thus far is only about 5mm long.