Please Help a fellow American Down On His Luck.... ;-)

[CasaReefer]

Hi All in Reef Land,
I purchase some cheato yesterday at my local reef store and when I got it home I could see several live critters of various forms. Small snails and other moving creatures. So I filled a bucket with salt water and stuck the ball of cheato in there. Should I be worried about these critters. Please Help and Thanks In Advance.

 

[evolved]

Depends what those critters are - some might be fine, some you might not want. Pictures?

 

[CasaReefer]

Depends what those critters are - some might be fine, some you might not want. Pictures?

well there really small I guess I could try to dig some out and take pic. Can I clean it like under tap water?

 

[TheShrimpNibbler]

Pictures of the creatures would help. Some, like amphipods can be harmful, but a copepod on the other hand would be just fine.

 

[TheShrimpNibbler]

well there really small I guess I could try to dig some out and take pic. Can I clean it like under tap water?

You could give it a freshwater dip in dechlronated tap or RODI.

 

[CasaReefer]

Here is a pic of one of them

 

[CasaReefer]

Hunter any thoughts on the matter...? I am on the edge of my seat awaiting your wisdom and stuff.

 

[Murica]

The bug looking one is an amphipod, they eat small organisms such as copepods. They’re a great snack for a lot of fish. Second looks like a limpet snail, another good thing to have in the tank

 

[CasaReefer]

The bug looking one is an amphipod, they eat small organisms such as copepods. They’re a great snack for a lot of fish. Second looks like a limpet snail, another good thing to have in the tank

Thank You Very Much.

 

[Murica]

Thank You Very Much.

Some people report that amphipods eat coral but... I’ve never seen it. I believe they eat algae too so what people may think is eating coral is probably just them causing them to close up while they scavenge for food IMO

 

[TheShrimpNibbler]

Some people report that amphipods eat coral but... I’ve never seen it. I believe they eat algae too so what people may think is eating coral is probably just them causing them to close up while they scavenge for food IMO

Amphipods DO eat coral, and I have seen it first hand. They also severely deplete copepod populations IME. My amphipods were eating a new coral with no algae on it, and I also saw parts of the coral where pieces had been eaten. The second does not look like a limpet to me, could you get a photo from the side?

 

[CasaReefer]

Depends what those critters are - some might be fine, some you might not want. Pictures?

Hello, Did I say something wrong?? I sent a picture for you to look at. I still don't know if they are good or bad?

 

[Epic Aquaculture]

Hello, Did I say something wrong?? I sent a picture for you to look at. I still don't know if they are good or bad?

First pic is amphipod, and it's good and a great part of CUC as well as good fish food. Second pic is the part of a snail that closes the shell up. I don't know what it's called off hand, but it's not alive, and not harmful.

 

[Epic Aquaculture]

Amphipods are scavengers, and do not eat live coral. If you've seen them on your coral, they are scavenging, and your coral was already dying. They are scavenging the dead tissue.

 

[CasaReefer]

First pic is amphipod, and it's good and a great part of CUC as well as good fish food. Second pic is the part of a snail that closes the shell up. I don't know what it's called off hand, but it's not alive, and not harmful.

Thank You

 

[Moxtrain]

First pic is amphipod, and it's good and a great part of CUC as well as good fish food. Second pic is the part of a snail that closes the shell up. I don't know what it's called off hand, but it's not alive, and not harmful.

Just for what it's worth the snails trap door is called his operculum.

 

[Epic Aquaculture]

Just for what it's worth the snails trap door is called his operculum.

Well played... Thank you!

 

[evolved]

First pic is amphipod, and it's good and a great part of CUC as well as good fish food. Second pic is the part of a snail that closes the shell up. I don't know what it's called off hand, but it's not alive, and not harmful.

Amphipods are scavengers, and do not eat live coral. If you've seen them on your coral, they are scavenging, and your coral was already dying. They are scavenging the dead tissue.

Yes and yes.

Hello, Did I say something wrong?? I sent a picture for you to look at. I still don't know if they are good or bad?

Left work and evening life started; sorry.

 

[TheShrimpNibbler]

Amphipods are scavengers, and do not eat live coral. If you've seen them on your coral, they are scavenging, and your coral was already dying. They are scavenging the dead tissue.

I entirely disagree. Have you ever seen or had amphipods on a coral? If so, you would know that they do eat corals. I have seen this first hand, on a healthy, new coral. I watched them take bites. This lasted for several days until I fw dipped the coral and stuck it in a bowl that amphipods couldn’t get into, where the coral opened again.

 

[SALTY 75]

Here is a pic of one of them

pretty sure you have two threads for this exact same topic.