Do copepods swim?

[JayM]

The reason I ask is I noticed some critters swimming around a couple of hours after lights out tonight. I’ve never seen them before, but I’ve also never really looked that closely. They’re incredibly small. Probably 1/3 the size of any of the pods I’ve ever seen crawling on the rocks, and shaped differently. Coloration is also different. Kind of a rust color. The only other thing I’d imagine they could be are skunk cleaner fry. I had an adult molt late last week and they typically release around the same time.

Is it possible there’s some survivors about a week later?

More curious than anything. I’m sure they’ll be eaten by something before they get much bigger.

 

[DaJMasta]

They do swim. There are pelagic species which exclusively swim, and then there are benthic species that swim as nauplii and then can swim to some degree (like shrimp or crabs) but otherwise walk.

 

[bradreef]

Rust color would likely be tigrio pods.
https://reefnutrition.com/products/tiggerpods-tigriopus-californicus
3rd pic in that link

 

[JayM]

Rust color would likely be tigrio pods.
https://reefnutrition.com/products/tiggerpods-tigriopus-californicus
3rd pic in that link

That does look like what I’m seeing.

 

[Glowurm]

Yes