What Are These,

[fishwatcher]

I tried posting this in the correct place, but have gotten no response to speak of.
I just got a blue lobster/crayfish. After I got him home I noticed there are little white worm-type things hanging on him. What are they, and what should I do about it?
The guy at the lfs told me it's normal and not to worry about it, and that even if I put him in with fish one day it'd still be fine. However, I'm not sure if he really knows, so I wanted to check here.
Thanks for any help you can give!

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I don't know what they are, but you'd probably get more/better help if you posted this in the Invertebrates, Amphibians & Aquatic Reptiles Forum section, there are quite a few crayfish and lobster owners there.

 

[fishwatcher]

I have posted there already. The only replies were that they didn't know and to PM a certain member. So far that member hasn't gotten back to me, and I'm not sure if it's an emergency-type situation. I didn't want to wait too long and it be something really bad, you know?
Hopefully someone will have some info soon though.
Thanks!

 

[Breeze7050]

sounds like some sort of parasite... not good. Take tokis's advice and try the invert's section, you may have better luck!

 

[newtotropical]

Cook the crayfish and have some Gombo...................Sorry only joking!!!

 

[fishwatcher]

I do enjoy some fried crawfish now! But not him... he's too dang cool!

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

If it does turn out to be a harmful parasite, avoid using any anti-parasitic chemical based medications on the critter as these contain copper which is harmful to all crustacions/invertebrates and will kill the lobster as well as the parasites. Your only option would be salt treatment, however i do not know if blue lobsters/crayfish can handle salt treatment- what is certain though is that they definately cannot handle copper based anti-parasitic treatments, i know that for sure.
Can you get any pics of the parasites or describe in greater detail as to what they look like? What area's of the lobsters/crayfish body are they infecting can you see?

 

[celaeno]

The guy at the lfs told me it's normal and not to worry about it, and that even if I put him in with fish one day it'd still be fine.

 

[fishwatcher]

Gotta love the lfs! These are the same guys who absolutely do not believe there is a such thing as a Dwarf Puffer! Idiots... not because they don't know (who can know everything!?!) but bc they don't even want to think they don't know.
Anyway, from what I've been weeding through on google, it seems that it is some sort of common leach, that stays tiny and typically does no harm to the crayfish. I'm not sure if it would come off of him and get on any other fish, though, if I ever decide to try them together.