Fish Suggestions...

[Jeremy386]

Hey there,

Had a False Perc in my 10gal, but it passed on for unknown reasons just over a month ago. I've got two questions.

First, is it safe to put a fish back in the tank. Since the False Perc died there has been nothing but a few corals, Pulsing Xenia, Galaxea, a couple of Zoas, and an Acan Lord. No other fish.

Second, what to put in there? Is there something out there that will take care of the abundance of isopods in the tank, keeping in mind it is a 10 gallon tank.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Jeremy

[K9]

Most people would consider an abundance of isopods to be a good thing. Have you thought about any of the goby species?

[Herbert T. Kornfeld]

Isopods? Those are usually bad. Copepods, Mysid, and others are good....but Isopods can be downright dangerous! Esp for fish & inverts!

[LTJGAlex]

I'm really confused now. Aren't isopods the little flea-looking pods that are about 2-3mm long? I have a lot of them in my 5g and 12g. I thought they were good detritus eaters and food for inverts and pipefish.

I'll tell you one thing that eats them: arrow crabs.

[sr71pav]

When I did some asking about isopods I was told that most are perfectly fine, but there is one type (I can't remember which) that is dangerous.

[Herbert T. Kornfeld]

I think what you are seeing sounds like mysid shrimp or amphipods. There was an article around here somewhere in advanced aquarist....where is that...???

Well, heres one helpful link...

http://www.oceanpods.com/faq.html#amphipods

[Herbert T. Kornfeld]

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rs/index.php

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-08/rs/index.php

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-02/rs/index.php

[Jeremy386]

They look just like the pic of an Isopod on Melev's site, and like one of the pictures on the third article you posted Herbert. Nothing like mysid shrimp or the pics I've seen of amphipods.

I don't mind some of them, but they are all over the place. There are hundreds on the front and sides of the tank, not to mention the ones on the sand and rocks. I just want to put a small dent in the population, and was looking for a fish that would do well in a 10gallon tank, and enjoy the occasional Isopod as a snack.

Thank you much.

Jeremy

[Herbert T. Kornfeld]

A 6-line wrasse would have a field day in that tank...just keep in mind that it will need a larger tank as time goes by.

Many of the fish that people keep in a 10g get too big to keep in there for life. In reality, there are very few fish that can be kept in a 10g forever. For the most part, gobies are the main choice.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/scateg.cfm?pCatId=2124

A great choice for a pod infested tank, and one of my favs, would be a hector's or rainfordi goby. They are more like a small wrasse, but much more tolerable of other fish. I would not do a clown goby. They secrete a poison on their skin and they love to perch on corals (and nip at small polyps) and kill them with their 'funk'.