Small black ostracods? Reef safe?

[kartrsu]

I’ve been seeing this tiny black spots all over my frag tank. They are really small, like copepod size. They crawl around and saw some at the base of my euphyllia. Not sure if they are reef safe. Quick search suggests they could be ostracods, but need help confirming.

 

[SHNICI]

I’ve been seeing this tiny black spots all over my frag tank. They are really small, like copepod size. They crawl around and saw some at the base of my euphyllia. Not sure if they are reef safe. Quick search suggests they could be ostracods, but need help confirming.

Harmless / reef safe

 

[kartrsu]

Harmless / reef safe

Thank you! So these are ostracods?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Some people classify them as shrimp. Their bodies are flattened from side to side and protected by a bivalve like calcareous valve or shell. The hinge of the two valves is in the upper dorsal region of the body. They are classified as harmless.

 

[kartrsu]

Awesome, thank you all! Experienced some tissue recession on my euphyllia after I added wild sand, and wasn’t sure if these were going to make it worse. Good to know they are harmless!