Please help me ID these crawlers!

33AP

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 18, 2025
Messages
28
Reaction score
11
Location
13721 Richmond Hwy Unit 76 woodbridge Va 22191
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Whatever they are have an appetite for Zoa Flesh..
20251101_113420_8D14712B-62EF-41D3-8F3E-A37FF939D298.png


20251101_113420_B0BD63A0-0CA6-4E57-9C78-108A435D2391.png

How i got them?
About five weeks ago, I received a Coral shipment from a well known seller in the hobby. Unfortunately it came with those pest. I always dip prior to adding any Coral into my tank, but they were resilient to any dips.

In the span of five weeks, they reproduce like crazy a lot of of my zoas started to decline and melt. I lost all of my high end due to this :(

I found that the only thing that really kills them off the frags is an iodine dip.. but they come right back since they are in the sand bed aswell.

I’m currently doing an interceptor dose. I started yesterday around 5PM only amphipods & copepods died. These crawlers are unfazed.. any recommendations as to what I should do? Thank you!
 

TX_REEF

Kessil Fanboy
View Badges
Joined
Mar 12, 2023
Messages
5,224
Reaction score
6,113
Location
Texas
Rating - 100%
4   0   0
it may be a zoanthid eating spider:

 
OP
OP
3

33AP

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 18, 2025
Messages
28
Reaction score
11
Location
13721 Richmond Hwy Unit 76 woodbridge Va 22191
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
it may be a zoanthid eating spider:

Thank you for the reply! Zoa spiders are much bigger & brown and soft bodied, these guys are hard shelled crab like but very tiny. Copepods size. I did the Interceptor, which is supposed to wipe out every invert I even 3x the dose.. they survived that! I’m not sure what else to do😢
 

TX_REEF

Kessil Fanboy
View Badges
Joined
Mar 12, 2023
Messages
5,224
Reaction score
6,113
Location
Texas
Rating - 100%
4   0   0
@vetteguy53081 usually has good advice on effective chemical additives... as far as natural pest control goes, a wrasse may help as well.
 

vetteguy53081

Well known Member and monster tank lover
View Badges
Joined
Aug 11, 2013
Messages
108,094
Reaction score
242,662
Location
Wisconsin -
Rating - 100%
17   0   0
Whatever they are have an appetite for Zoa Flesh..
20251101_113420_8D14712B-62EF-41D3-8F3E-A37FF939D298.png


20251101_113420_B0BD63A0-0CA6-4E57-9C78-108A435D2391.png

How i got them?
About five weeks ago, I received a Coral shipment from a well known seller in the hobby. Unfortunately it came with those pest. I always dip prior to adding any Coral into my tank, but they were resilient to any dips.

In the span of five weeks, they reproduce like crazy a lot of of my zoas started to decline and melt. I lost all of my high end due to this :(

I found that the only thing that really kills them off the frags is an iodine dip.. but they come right back since they are in the sand bed aswell.

I’m currently doing an interceptor dose. I started yesterday around 5PM only amphipods & copepods died. These crawlers are unfazed.. any recommendations as to what I should do? Thank you!
Looks to be what is known as ostracods often called grass shrimp and feed on tank debris and detritus
 

TOP 10 Trending Threads

WHAT AMOUNT OF LIVE ROCK AND SAND SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED FOR OPTIMAL BIODIVERSITY/FILTRATION?

  • 100% live rock + bagged sand

    Votes: 34 26.4%
  • 100% dry rock + 100% live sand

    Votes: 45 34.9%
  • 50/50 live/dry rock, 50/50 live/bagged sand

    Votes: 29 22.5%
  • 75% live rock, 25% live sand

    Votes: 11 8.5%
  • 25% live rock, 75% live sand

    Votes: 10 7.8%
Back
Top