Are these little bugs eating my sea cucumber ???

[rdmpe]

I have a young tank with no serious pod predators in it yet. It is very full of pods of different types and sizes (as far as I can tell they are different types...)

I recently bought an Atlantic Sea Cucumber. I have noticed that these certain little pods are crawling all over it and especially seem to like to be underneath it. The cucumber seems to be moving around the sandbed and using it's mouthparts to bring in sand and otherwise seems OK.

I'm not sure if these little bugs are hurting it or what. Here are some pictures... Please let me know what you think!

 

[SeanT]

Look like amphipods to me.
I doubt they are doing the cuke any harm.
More likely they are scrounging for an easy meal.

hth,
Sean

 

[charlesr1958]

I agree, they are most likely just using the cuke for cover and a free ride, picking off particles that stick to the cuke.

 

[rdmpe]

Thanks!! Makes me feel better.

 

[romunov]

I see amphipods take refuge behind a cucumber all the time. When the cucumber climbs the glass, it gets "hitchhiked" by some stomatellas as well (they hide in its shadow).