Reef Discussion

[shaidas]

http://www.watoday.com.au/victoria/...-brighton-teenagers-legs-20170806-gxq9db.html

Take a look at the video. I dont think thats what did the damage to the boy's legs but curious to know if anyone have these in their tank and what are they. Dont look like any of the common pests but I am pretty sure I have a load of these things in my tank

 

[shaidas]

I thought they are amphipods

http://www.melevsreef.com/critters/amphipod

Well looks close

 

[Aspidites]

Aphipods. Have heaps in my sump. They eat the dead skin off my hands but maybe I won't let them anymore!!!!
He must have been in the water forever and gone all soft and wrinkly for that to happen

 

[ReeferRob]

I thought they are amphipods

http://www.melevsreef.com/critters/amphipod

Well looks close

Yep, the thinking is that some sort of isopod attacked him. What you have in your tank are copepods. Some of these creatures that feed on blood or tissue have a chemical that stops clotting which can be very dangerous if not treated immediately.

 

[daveH]

 

[ReeferRob]

Now they're saying it's some sort of isopod that attacked him. I can sympathize with him having contracted Lyme disease a few weeks ago. Zoonotic diseases REALLY suck!!

 

[Wallypops]

Hope your better now reeferrob

 

[ReeferRob]

I'm getting there slowly but surely mate.

 

[ReeferRob]

Well, here's a pisser. What they thought was Lyme disease turned out to be Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, neither of which is good. They both present the same was, no eneergy, chills, fever and aches. I made antibodies for RMSF, they can't test for them until 2 weeks after exposure. I think I'd rather dodge all the critters down there that might kill me than to deal with tick borne diseases. My fever was all the way up to 40.4C degrees, 104.7F.

 

[shaidas]

Thats a bummer mate. How did you contract it ?

 

[ReeferRob]

Ticks carry it here so if you come here, check yourself for them if you go into the woods.

 

[shaidas]

I go there often..never into any woods though.. which part are you talking about just so that I know never to go there :-)

 

[ReeferRob]

You can catch it anywhere in the USA mate. It was confined to western states, but it can be found anywhere. We had a very mild winter last year and the ticks are thick as thieves here this summer. Where do you come to in the US? I'm in Bel Air, Maryland on the east coast.

 

[shaidas]

I generally only go to LA bud and looks like thats the wise thing to do :-) Hope you feel better soon