night time critters

[ladyfsu]

OK, was bored and peeking in my tank with a flashlight tonight. Did it a few other times recently and won't say that my tank is exactly overflowing with weird night time critters, but I have discovered a bit. A pistol shrimp, lots of pods and worms, a gorilla crab and LOTS of brittle star legs. Also about 15 more red mithrax crabs and porcelain crabs than I thought I had.

What are those little shrimp called that are in there swimming around in the holes of the rocks? I don't mean the cope/amphi/iso pods. These are little fast shrimpy guys whose eyes shine bright in the light...they are maybe 1cm long at best. I didn't know I had them and they are really cool.

My fuge is crawling with some really messed up things. I seriously don't even know how to describe them. I'll have to find the camera. There are about 10 different wormy guys but not bristle worms or anything. There's a little black and white guy cruising in the chaeto that has 2 weird antenna things on him (he's 1/2 cm), then some brown guys with funky antennas that are constantly feeding him, some wacky stick looking crab guy...and so on.

What are some of the weird and cool things you've found with a flashlight? This is fun!

 

[ReefArtist]

Some night life you got there - LOL. I guess I'm just boring, my gobies come out at night as does my pistol. We have seen some very strange creatures but have no idea what they are. I think pictures are in order!

 

[flfirefighter13]

For xmas my wife got me a flashlight with a red lense and we now spend more time looking at nite than during the day, lots of cool stuff to be found, Ill try to snag some pics as well.

 

[ReefArtist]

LadyFSU, what do you think about us starting a night time photo page? We can start right here - let me know as I don't want to take control of your subject - but I think it would be very cool . flfirefighter13 that is a great idea, I used one for astronomy so your eyes would be accustomed to the lower lights. Do you think just a red plastic film would work?

 

[flfirefighter13]

Sure will, I used theatrical gel for the last year with no problem, call arund and find thetarical or film supply store and ask them for a gel swatch book, small sheets of gel that you can tape together for any size flashlight. Red seems to not be visible by inverts, they rarely run from it, blue can make some cool actnic effects as well. I am actually in the process of searching ebay for reb and blue led's, Im planning to put astring of blue for moon lights and another of red to view with. I figure a 3 way switch should allow me to swithc between red and blue.

 

[boydx6]

You can buy a small mag-lite at WalMart for about 12.00 that comes with a red and blue lense. It runs off of AA batteries. That is what I use. If you already have a mag-lite, they sell the lenses for about 4.00 for the set.

 

[CMcNeil]

i would say they are mysis shrimp.i have tons of them in my tank along with the normal pods,brittlestars,worms,a few pistols,and most likely a mantis.

 

[ladyfsu]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8877600#post8877600 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReefArtist
LadyFSU, what do you think about us starting a night time photo page? We can start right here -

Sounds perfect Post away!!! I'll try to get some tonight of those darn shrimp!!


OH just saw that other post! Yes hawk, I think they ARE mysis!

 

[ReefArtist]

Cool - I'd like to see what larger mysis look like. I have some critters that we call "Reef Rats" they scurry away as soon as you put a light on them.

 

[ladyfsu]

OK already got my first one. I run my fuge's lights opposite my tanks and it's dark in there now. I just got this fuge up about 10 days ago. It has maybe 4 inches of playsand in it...so...I bought 3lbs of uncured live rock to throw in it to "liven" it up quickly. I saw several things yesterday, but after reading Artist's post, I thought I'd take a look down there in the dark right now and THIS guy was there. I assume it's a kind of nudibranch? It's about 1/2" - 3/4".

 

[ReefArtist]

OH MY GOSH! That is so cool! It does look like a nudibranch - pics right off the bat - way cool! I'm staying up tonight pass my fish bedtime.

 

[sunkool]

ladyfsu, what kind of camera are you using to get that good of a pic on something 1/2 3/4" long? I have a 600.00 digital Lumix that don't even come close. it don't seem to focus that good through the glass.

 

[ladyfsu]

I have a Kodak EasyShare Z650. I had to crop the picture and zoom it in after the pic was taken...I was also about 4 inches away from this guy when I took it.

 

[sunkool]

what software did you use to "zoom it in after the pic was taken"?

 

[ladyfsu]

Adobe Photoshop Album 2.0 Starter Edition...I think it came with my computer. My husband bought me the camera and I'm the only one who uses it, so I had wanted to pick it, but he did as a present. I have to say I really do like it alot.

 

[bkwudzjeep]

I'm not sure, but that nudi looks like others I've seen in threads about zoo eating nudibraches. They were very striking like zoos, but unfortunately eat them......

Maybe search around a bit, search isn't working for me right now, but I also did not pay....

 

[ReefArtist]

You can download Adobe Photoshop Album 3.0 Starter Edition - Free:

http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=72&platform=Windows

 

[BankerJohn]

I am not any type of an expert, but I remember seeing a post with pics (can't remember where) that had Berghia Nudi's, which are nudi's that feed on aptasia. Maybe someone else will chime in to give a positive ID.

Cool pix though!

 

[DaddyJax]

Phidiana indica
Hydroid eater!! Very,very cool nudi!!
http://www.seaslugforum.net/display.cfm?id=3649

 

[bkwudzjeep]

Cool! Good find DaddyJax!