Question/ID about tiny hitchhiker

iggiebee · Nov 2, 2012

Today while closely watching and acropora I bought 2 weeks ago, I noticed very small creature moving in and out of the branches. After grabbing a magnifying glass for a closer look, noticed it was moving like a lobster of some kind with its body flat against the surface. It was not a red bug so much I can tell, and it was about 3 - 4 times larger.

The creature was about 3/16" long by 1/16" thick, it had reddish/brownish color with 3 or 4 white stripes across its body, and to me it looked like an almost microscopic pistol shrimp. Could this be it?... Can they be so tiny?... any other ideas as to what could it be?... an acro crab perhaps?

Sorry I don't have the equipment for photographing such a small creature.

Connie · Nov 3, 2012

Amphipod maybe?

Steven R · Nov 3, 2012

+1 copepod or amphipod, but I would still watch it to see what it does.

Downbeach · Nov 3, 2012

Check here:

Amphipod
Amphipods by Ronald L. Shimek, Ph.D. - Reefkeeping.com
Copepod
Bitty Bugs: Copepods in the Reef Aquarium by Ronald L. Shimek, Ph.D. - Reefkeeping.com

iggiebee · Nov 4, 2012

Thanks,

Its larger than copepods, and does not have the big eyes of the amphipods. The body is thinner, tapered towards the back, and can twist it when turning, It looks like it walks on legs. For now it does not seem to be doing any harm, so I'll keep an eye on it.

For sure, I will be buying one of those cheap USB waterproof microscopes, in the near future.