Amphipods living in coral skeleton?

[Calm Blue Ocean]

Just had this frag delivered yesterday. Admittedly a bit disappointed to see several pests including what looks like aiptasia delivered as well.

I've seen a few of these speedy guys popping in and out of holes in the coral. Amphipod of some sort?


Since taking this video I have dipped in CoralRx. But part of me just wants to throw it out.

 

[Zach B]

Looks very similar to an amphipod. Looks like it snagged some food quick but hard to tell. The dip should take care of them but they aren't necessarily bad. The aptasia is a different story... Are you still seeing them?

 

[Uriken]

I have a large amount of large pods in my tank due to no fish stocked accept for a couple clowns that come out and look just as your video yet they never do things like that unless it is night time. If that is what it is It wouldn't be of concern with it living in the base as I haven't seen them able to dig out a burrow deeper into rock or coral to harm it. Usually the holes and tunnels already available they seek out and make home. The aiptasia on the other hand obviously I would address.

 

[Calm Blue Ocean]

Looks very similar to an amphipod. Looks like it snagged some food quick but hard to tell. The dip should take care of them but they aren't necessarily bad. The aptasia is a different story... Are you still seeing them?

Haven't noticed one yet but the darn things are quick, blink and you miss it.

I already have a hefty amphipod population in the tank but hadn't seen ones living in corals before like this. Different variety perhaps? After dipping I didn't note anything in the bottom of the container so I'll assume if it took care of them they died inside the coral.

I keep hoping my peppermint shrimp sees the aiptasia and has a quick meal so I don't have to figure out how to remove it without harming the coral.

 

[Calm Blue Ocean]

I have a large amount of large pods in my tank due to no fish stocked accept for a couple clowns that come out and look just as your video yet they never do things like that unless it is night time. If that is what it is It wouldn't be of concern with it living in the base as I haven't seen them able to dig out a burrow deeper into rock or coral to harm it. Usually the holes and tunnels already available they seek out and make home. The aiptasia on the other hand obviously I would address.

I'll check for them again when I feed tonight and again after lights out. I had a bit of a panic at the idea of some sort of coral boring amphipod. I have plenty of the critters without ones that dig into coral skeletons!

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Where is the Aip on the coral? If on the skeleton, makes it super easy to remove, rinse area, super glue over and put back in tank.

 

[Zach B]

Where is the Aip on the coral? If on the skeleton, makes it super easy to remove, rinse area, super glue over and put back in tank.

+1 on superglue on the little ones

 

[Uriken]

Usually when aiptasia gets on a coral skeleton base like that I will still gently hit it with the lemon juice in a syringe and then take some coral gel and put a small dab over the aiptasia. The peppermint shrimp is always a hit or miss. When the aiptasia are small they seem to get them right away. If it hasn't yet you may want to just handle it yourself before it can make some babies and spread.

 

[Calm Blue Ocean]

Where is the Aip on the coral? If on the skeleton, makes it super easy to remove, rinse area, super glue over and put back in tank.

 

[Calm Blue Ocean]

Usually when aiptasia gets on a coral skeleton base like that I will still gently hit it with the lemon juice in a syringe and then take some coral gel and put a small dab over the aiptasia. The peppermint shrimp is always a hit or miss. When the aiptasia are small they seem to get them right away. If it hasn't yet you may want to just handle it yourself before it can make some babies and spread.

Big Mama is a proven aiptasia eater (completely eradicated it in my old tank) but I think I'll take care of this myself. Thanks for the tips!

 

[Calm Blue Ocean]

Well, I didn't notice any of the smaller guys blinking out of their holes during feeding tonight but it looks like the big boy amphipod from the video survived the dip in CoralRx.

The only other dip I have on hand is MediCoral which I think is more for bacterial infections and that sort of thing.

Is there something else that might be more effective against bigger amphipods? Or alternatively, don't worry about it, it's just an amphipod?

 

[Zach B]

If it is indeed an amphipod, there is no worry. Keep an eye and you should be all good

 

[Uriken]

In my tank my pods have grown large being that I have no fish in there but 2 clowns that don't care to eat them. I'm curious as to what fish you have in your tank. Most fish if given the opportunity love to have them as a snack regardless of how big they get. I'm glad its just pods and not something that can create havoc in your tank.

 

[Calm Blue Ocean]

In my tank my pods have grown large being that I have no fish in there but 2 clowns that don't care to eat them. I'm curious as to what fish you have in your tank. Most fish if given the opportunity love to have them as a snack regardless of how big they get. I'm glad its just pods and not something that can create havoc in your tank.

Two ocellaris clowns, a Midas Blenny, and two of the most spoiled wrasses ever. A Red-Lined Wrasse and a Pink Streaked Wrasse. Those two chunky fish have no idea how to work for a meal. But in all fairness, the amphipods seem to do a great job of hiding during the day. I need a nocturnal amphipod hunter.

It wasn't until I managed to get the video that I realized it seemed to be amphipods. I just kept seeing these little white things popping in and out of the coral like little tongues and thought they might be worms of some sort. More amphipods? I guess it's just welcome to the neighborhood lol.

 

[Uriken]

That's interesting the wrasse haven't cleaned out the pods. They are great to pick them out of the rocks. Although many will sleep in the sand bed at night and ignore the activity that goes on with the lights off. I been considering a Copperband Butterfly to put in my tank that are great pod eaters yet can be hard to keep due to their finicky appetites' with frozen foods. Larger fish like that would put a dent in the population.

 

[clarimore]

Haven't noticed one yet but the darn things are quick, blink and you miss it.

I already have a hefty amphipod population in the tank but hadn't seen ones living in corals before like this. Different variety perhaps? After dipping I didn't note anything in the bottom of the container so I'll assume if it took care of them they died inside the coral.

I keep hoping my peppermint shrimp sees the aiptasia and has a quick meal so I don't have to figure out how to remove it without harming the coral.

hot rodi water right in its mouth

 

[Zach B]

Could always superglue over the hole if you're really concerned, cruel I know. I believe it to be an amphipod though. Do keep an eye on it though again Best of luck

 

[Calm Blue Ocean]

Could always superglue over the hole if you're really concerned, cruel I know. I believe it to be an amphipod though. Do keep an eye on it though again Best of luck

Ha, yeah, I gave that a thought as well. Tried to poison them with dip, tried to direct my wrasses to the buffet, but somehow gluing them in seemed weird. ;Hilarious

Gluing aiptasia however...that's never weird! Get the glue!

 

[Siberwulf]

I'm reading this while thinking "aren't pods good?" and now I feel like I missed something...

 

[Calm Blue Ocean]

That's interesting the wrasse haven't cleaned out the pods. They are great to pick them out of the rocks. Although many will sleep in the sand bed at night and ignore the activity that goes on with the lights off. I been considering a Copperband Butterfly to put in my tank that are great pod eaters yet can be hard to keep due to their finicky appetites' with frozen foods. Larger fish like that would put a dent in the population.

I think the darn things are like cockroaches and I imagine the same food that's making the wrasses fat and lazy is helping boost their numbers (and size - I think some are just too big for the pink streaked wrasse). I actually saw one yesterday morning go scampering across the sand to grab a pellet that had made it past the fish. Although sights like that are when I have to just sigh and say, "free cleanup crew".