Irritators in action (video).

[A. Grandis]

Some of the larger amphipods can really irritate zoas.
Check it out:
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Nuw9A3BvWdI?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
The species in the video probably don't eat zoanthids, but they do irritate them a lot!! They are probably herbivores. Some of the larger species of amphipods, like in the video, indeed eat zoas though (carnivores). Some other are opportunistic and will eat dead zoas. There are 3 types of amphipods: herbivores, carnivores and omnivores.

Cheers!
Grandis.

 

[A. Grandis]

One more:
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/82EhC_aeSNA?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Grandis.

 

[A. Grandis]

Tell us what irritators you've got, if any, please.
Maybe this could be an irritator's thread?

Grandis.

 

[A. Grandis]

More irritators:
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/D0BqDSbve6Q?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Wondering why your zoas aren't opening?
Could be that!!

Grandis.

 

[Reefer54]

nice clips. lil buggers.

i had what i am assuming a crab munch a few of my eagle eyes the other night....i cant find the culprit, just a few polyps cut in half and 5 or 6 polyps missing altogther. i have been checking during the late hours to see what is going after them. Nada yet. Now i just hope no bacterial infection comes in, but 2 days, nothing, i hope i am in the clear...just the few polyps that are cut in half i am worried most about now.

needless to say, i am irritated.

 

[A. Grandis]

Oh man! You could try check after lights go out.
Wait an hour or so and use a flashlight with a red bulb, if you can!
Some say they can get the crabs with traps. Put a piece of shrimp inside...
You can make one with a pipe and a funnel in one of the openings. The other opening you can use a plug.
Good luck!

Grandis.

 

[Piper27]

Man we have all kinds of pods and such, I have never seen them scurrying around in a colony irritating them like that. Maybe our leopard wrasse is helping?
Detritus is one that ticks our polyps off when it settles in certain colonies. Can they enough flow because of the sand and have thought about going barebottom because of this.

 

[A. Grandis]

Oh no.. I went bare bottom couple of times and just couldn't help! Eventually I missed the sand terribly. The sand makes huge difference on the biofiltration too.
I think the best way would be to direct the flow to help you and add the detritus removal to your maintenance list. That's what worked better for me. Maybe you should at least think before you do it. I don't know...
Well, I would think the wrasse is helping you a lot with the bugs, yes.

Grandis.

 

[AlexRSM130]

I always had small pods in my tanks.In fact I always believed they are good for the system.Now I have to admit I look for a wrasse...or maybe a damsel...whats best for big pods Grandis?
Thanks in advance.

 

[A. Grandis]

I had many amphipods in my systems before I added my wrasses, but they were all herbivores and I didn't have any noticeable problems. I actually introduced them. They were selectively collected to help controlling the algae. I have artificial rocks! If the system has only herbivore amphipods and the algae is under control, their population is retained. When you put the wrasses their numbers are significantly reduced, of course. With many zoas and holes on the rocks they are still present, but still reduced. Basically the wrasses won't be able to reach them in all the holes and among the zoas.

One of the problems we would have is when the amphipods are reproducing too fast and the population would actually bother the zoas to the point they close. Even the herbivore amphipods could irritate, when the system has enough algae to boost their population!!

Another problem is when carnivore amphipods are accidentally introduced in the system and because of lack of food they turn to the cnidarias, like zoanthids. Carnivore amphipods are predators.
The opportunistic amphipods are the ones that would eat rotten, dead zoas. I believe that carnivores and omnivores would classify as opportunistic, not herbivores.

Normally the bigger species of amphipods are carnivores/omnivores, but here are also large species of herbivore amphipods.

It's important to remind us that the term "pods" could refer mainly to amphipods and copepods in our case. Isopods are parasites and normally not referred by the term "pods".
But copepods are those tiny crustaceans and most of them (the good ones) feed on algae. We can see them on the glass eating algae. Other species are parasitic (bad guys).

I think the most common wrasse to take care of "pods" is the Six Line Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia). I've got one and it is a very special fish with a great personality! It searches for bugs all the time.

Grandis.

 

[AlexRSM130]

Grandis you are a pleasure to read.Thank you very much for your time man.

 

[A. Grandis]

My pleasure!
I also enjoy and learn lots from all of you everyday!!
:thumbsup:

Grandis.

 

[Piper27]

Oh no.. I went bare bottom couple of times and just couldn't help! Eventually I missed the sand terribly. The sand makes huge difference on the biofiltration too.
I think the best way would be to direct the flow to help you and add the detritus removal to your maintenance list. That's what worked better for me. Maybe you should at least think before you do it. I don't know...
Well, I would think the wrasse is helping you a lot with the bugs, yes.

Grandis.

We are not going to do it, just a thought at the time. We Definatly need to bump up our maintenance routine too, along with a few other things. Check my thread soon becsuse I am going to have a good update.

 

[joshky]

Amphipods can certainly become a nuisance if you don't have anything to control the population. I'm not convinced the amphipods I have are anything but herbivores, I just think the population got way out of control, to the point of zoas closing up and dying. They were out and about 24/7, you could see them ticking the zoas off, one colony in particular. Anyways I added a dragonet to take care of it and ever since my zoas have come back around.

 

[A. Grandis]

We are not going to do it, just a thought at the time. We Definatly need to bump up our maintenance routine too, along with a few other things. Check my thread soon becsuse I am going to have a good update.

:thumbsup:
Grandis.

 

[A. Grandis]

Amphipods can certainly become a nuisance if you don't have anything to control the population. I'm not convinced the amphipods I have are anything but herbivores, I just think the population got way out of control, to the point of zoas closing up and dying. They were out and about 24/7, you could see them ticking the zoas off, one colony in particular. Anyways I added a dragonet to take care of it and ever since my zoas have come back around.

Yep, the herbivores feed on algae and their population can be amazing!!
They do bother the zoas a lot if not under control.

I've heard people saying that dragonets aren't able to swallow all species of amphipods. Some say they reject the larger species and will eat only the small ones.

Grandis.