Have I got fleas?

[Schmoner]

Hi,

After just setting up my tank about 5 days ago, things are looking very good, very very small ammonia spike, but i've just added more L/R today, so i'm expecting another.

What i've noticed after starting endlessly at the tank (Like you do - hopefully) I've noticed hundereds of tiny inverts scurrying all over the sand bed, there seems to be thousands of the tiny little things, the only thing I can use to describe them is like little fleas?

What are they, and are they safe?

 

[davidhughes85]

man thats bad...your tank will explode.....jk everyone has those i think they call them "pods" or something like that

 

[CarmieJo]

They are porbably copepods. See these pictures:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=581683

 

[FormulatedFire]

def safe and great if you want to have a madarin fish.......thats what most survive off of in home aquariums since most dont accept prepared food

 

[CarmieJo]

Yep. They are good.

 

[Paintbug]

copepods are super tiny, and usually you will only see them on the glass. on the sandbed are usually amphipods, and mysis shrimp (if your lucky enough).

 

[davocean]

Isn't it opposite, amphipods on glass at night, coppepods on sandbed?

 

[mecold]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7126106#post7126106 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by davocean
Isn't it opposite, amphipods on glass at night, coppepods on sandbed?

Paintbug is right, but you could be too. Thing is, if coppepods are on the sand, you probably wouldn't be able to see them they are so small.

 

[davocean]

I've come home at night, and seen amphipods very clearly on back of the tank, white feathery, kinda look like brine.
At night with a flashlight I've seen copepods on the sandbed, very small, flea size or smaller, redish color.
I was told they accumilate at the base of LR on sand, because that's heavy with their food source

 

[Paintbug]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7127006#post7127006 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by davocean
I've come home at night, and seen amphipods very clearly on back of the tank, white feathery, kinda look like brine.
At night with a flashlight I've seen copepods on the sandbed, very small, flea size or smaller, redish color.
I was told they accumilate at the base of LR on sand, because that's heavy with their food source

i have never seen copepods that where red in color. not saying there isnt any becauses theres many types of copepods. i have seen baby mysis shrimp look red at night with a flashlight on them. its from the glow of their eyes. they are all over the sandbed at night to feed. copepods will be all over the tank as well, but they are so tiny 1-2mm tiny. i dont know if they would be visible on the sandbed. possible i suppose if you get close enough to the sandbed. but they really blend in with the sand. amphipods will also come out at night. most the time they stay on the LR and sand. they will be on the glass if they have something to hold on too, like algae or coralline. its hard for them to hold onto the glass if its clean.

take a look here www.melevsreef.com/id for some pics of each.

 

[davocean]

I bought copepods online- tigerpods
Unless their wrong, thats what I see on sandbed.
Tigerpods are a red rusty color, size of a flea.
Check copepods.com

 

[Paintbug]

from www.copepod.com

Tigriopus californicus is a very large (250-2500 micron) harpacticoid copepod that ranges from Alaska to Baja California. T. californicus is a very hearty copepod that can tolerate wide ranges in temperature (10-35Ã"šÃ‚°C) and salinity (10-100 ppt). T. californicus eats microscopic algae, protists, bacteria, diatoms, algae and microbes (McGroarty 1958). The T. Californiumââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ life cycle has 14 stages, and can live from 50-100 days.

these are from the west coast of North America. and quite large so you may be able to see them. the common hitchhiker copepods (Harpacticoid copepods) are tiny, white to clear in color. heres an article on the common copepods. http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-10/rs/index.php

 

[davocean]

Thanks for info paintbug.
I do appreciate any comments/advice that helps to make me
a better reefer.
A world of info to take in.

 

[Paintbug]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7131842#post7131842 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by davocean
Thanks for info paintbug.
I do appreciate any comments/advice that helps to make me
a better reefer.
A world of info to take in.

glad to help. some of us have no life so we get to read about this hobby 5-6 hours a day on it LOL