Amphipod?

CK Amstutz · Feb 8, 2021

There are some huge ones in my refugium. Are they okay? I have a 140 gallon reef with SPS.

king aiptasia · Feb 8, 2021

CK Amstutz said:
There are some huge ones in my refugium. Are they okay? I have a 140 gallon reef with SPS.

he is pretty big, I'm a little jealous. Yeah they are safe and beneficial even if they are gigantic. how long are they?

king aiptasia · Feb 8, 2021

though shallow water species don't get this big keep in mind the physical limit for an Amphipod's maximum size is quite large

CK Amstutz · Feb 8, 2021

king aiptasia said:
though shallow water species don't get this big keep in mind the physical limit for an Amphipod's maximum size is quite large

I have seen two that are over a half inch.

vetteguy53081 · Feb 8, 2021

CK Amstutz said:
There are some huge ones in my refugium. Are they okay? I have a 140 gallon reef with SPS.

Man- these are near the size of mysis shrimp !!

LRT · Feb 8, 2021

CK Amstutz said:
There are some huge ones in my refugium. Are they okay? I have a 140 gallon reef with SPS.

Id definitely do a little research and try to narrow down species. Plenty of pods that will eat zoas, rfa, bta. Ive personally witnessed it.
And they will eat corals especially if no other food source available and populations are left to grow out of control.
Not to mention the mess they make constantly molting its gets pretty annoying.

king aiptasia · Feb 8, 2021

LRT said:
Id definitely do a little research and try to narrow down species. Plenty of pods that will eat zoas, rfa, bta. Ive personally witnessed it.
And they will eat corals especially if no other food source available and populations are left to grow out of control.
Not to mention the mess they make constantly molting its gets pretty annoying.

There is very very few amphipods that eat corals, even less that will make their way in an aquarium. To my experience most coral eating amphipods are brightly colored to blend into corals they eat for example this Hyperia galba can not be trusted