Interesting little creature

[Lavey29]

During dark time I used a flashlight to view the tank. I saw these small creatures running around on the sand. They were 1/4 inch long and almost the same color of the sand. They did not swim just run around like little water beetles.

Are these a type of amphipods? To big for copepods. They seem to hide in the rocks and come out at night but they were on the base of my corals to. I cant really get a picture They blend in to the sand. Maybe 6 legs and almost look like tiny shrimp.

 

[blaxsun]

Maybe.

 

[Lavey29]

Maybe.

I see the tiny copepods that look black running around the bottom or swimming I can't tell but this is the first time I've seen these larger critters. I hope they are good guys.

 

[N.Sreefer]

Sounds like it this is a gammarus amphipod very shrimp like

 

[Lavey29]

Sounds like it this is a gammarus amphipod very shrimp like

Totally, that is it. You are the winner of the unknown critter contest. Thanks so much.

 

[Lavey29]

I am always amazed at the high level of knowledge on this site relating to anything and everything reef related.

 

[N.Sreefer]

Totally, that is it. You are the winner of the unknown critter contest. Thanks so much.

Its nice when its harmless cuc and not a coral eating monster haha. No problem at all! Happy reefing :)

 

[EricR]

Just for fun, below is a pic of an amphipod from my tank in my brother in-law-'s digital microscope.

When I was BRAND NEW to all this, it freaked me out the first time I saw these guys crawling on my live rock -- WATER LICE!

I've seen some big ones swimming across the tank every so often -- my little clown tries to eat them but they won't fit in his/her mouth.

 

[Lavey29]

Just for fun, below is a pic of an amphipod from my tank in my brother in-law-'s digital microscope.

When I was BRAND NEW to all this, it freaked me out the first time I saw these guys crawling on my live rock -- WATER LICE!

I've seen some big ones swimming across the tank every so often -- my little clown tries to eat them but they won't fit in his/her mouth.

I've got terrible eyesight and saw these blurs running across the sand and thought OMG what now...

 

[N.Sreefer]

Just for fun, below is a pic of an amphipod from my tank in my brother in-law-'s digital microscope.

When I was BRAND NEW to all this, it freaked me out the first time I saw these guys crawling on my live rock -- WATER LICE!

I've seen some big ones swimming across the tank every so often -- my little clown tries to eat them but they won't fit in his/her mouth.

In NS have a species of amphipod that loves to crawl on people and everyone thinks its amphipods biting when they get stung by jellyfish larva so every year I get to watch tourists lose it when one crawls on them. Thats a wicked shot gotta get me a digital microscope its amazing seeing them in such detail.