HELP - Something's attached to my Maroon Clown

[Flipper1]

I noticed last night, someting on the top of my goldstripe maroon. It's about 1/8 inch long, and attached to the top of him, directly in front of his dorsel fin. The best that I can describe it, is that it looks kind of like one of those water bugs -- the ones that curl up into a ball if you touch them. Only it's very small, and is encased in a fairly clear sack. The fish is behaving normaly.

Is this some kind of parasite? Should I be concerned? Thanks.

[reefcrazed]

Yes it is most likely a parasite called and isopod. They attach to the fish and suck the blood from it. You need to catch the fish and pull it off.

[STACKER]

Blood sucking varmint! Pluck it and kill it! Check the fish real well for others!

[Flipper1]

Thanks! Any treatments such as a dip or anything?

[reefcrazed]

Good question. I am not sure.

[cristhiam]

Don't dip the fish I think that will stress him, I had that problem with my clown too some time ago and when I got the fish out the isopod came loose, you can try to use twissers (spelling).

[Anemone]

Take a look at cirolanid isopods..

http://reefcentral.com/forums/search.php?s=&action=showresults&searchid=3952076&sortby=lastpost&sortorder=descending

Kevin