Thanks for the info Veriann, I sent out the following Email:
Mr. Anderson, I appreciate you taking the time to read and reply to this message. I found your name after performing a broad web search on the term "Epicaridean isopods". I have a situation where I believe my pet cleaner shrimp may also be hosting an Epicaridean isopod. After much searching and posts on forums I am getting mixed responses as to how harmful this is to the cleaner shrimp and my 65 Gallon reef system in general. Since your credentials state that one of you main studies is the Epicaridean isopod I believe that you would be one of the best people to ask about this situation. I am a member of an online group of reef keepers that share and post information just like this on a site at www.talkingreef.com. I hope that you have the time to answer the following questions so we may be better educated and in turn we hope to post this information so others may learn from it as well. Here are the questions: In you opinion, is the shrimp in the attached photo hosting an Epicaridean isopod? If it indeed is an Epicaridean isopod, what are the long term effects on the shrimp? Should an extraction of the isopod be attempted? I currently have fish, corals, shrimp, crabs, starfish and snails within my reef system. What, if any, is the risk to the other residents of my reef? If you would like to view other information on my system, my reef journal can be located at Wildeone's Newest Obsession I really appreciate you taking the time to read and answer this message. Thanks again, Duane Wilde So everyone knows, Dr. Anderson is a professor at the University of Southern Mississippi and lists amoung his research the biology of epicardian isopods.
I also emailed Dr. Adelaide Rhodes on the subject to see if she has any information that would be helpful.
Also, late last night, I posted questions about this subject at Reef Central. Steven Pro chimed in and said that these Isopods are considered non life threatening to the shrimp. He noted the only harm done would be to the reproductive capabilities of the host. He also said no quarentine or extraction was necessary. So as with everything else in this hobby there are differing opinions. I think we will let the Doctors sort this one out!
