Flat pods?

[RabidDragon]

I recently discovered these in my tank (see below), they are very numerous on my rocks and quickly run for cover when exposed to lights. It seems very similar in shape and form to the terrestrial pill bugs (armadillidiidae) except much smaller. I suspect they came with some Amphipods I deliberately added about a month ago which are spreading throughout the tank as well.

Good? Bad? They don't appear to be bothering the fish that I can tell. I only have one leather toadstool at the moment, its not very happy at the moment but that could be due to the dino's I'm still battling.

Size reference: its in a large single drop of water, there is a small safety pin in the video.

Thanks!

 

[anthonygf]

WOW! Interesting. Would like to know myself.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Looks like a type of isopod to me, maybe @KJ knows.

 

[terraincognita]

Isopod

Probably in the serolidae family.

maybe sphaeromatidae.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Isopod

Probably in the serolidae family.

maybe sphaeromatidae.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Miss your shiny mug around here you know!

 

[RabidDragon]

Ok, so the 'net lists it as a browser or detritus feeder, no comments on the order of " OMG, kill it now!' so I'm going with the belief/hope that is a good thing.

Thanks, I appreciate it!

 

[Nymz]

Ok, so the 'net lists it as a browser or detritus feeder, no comments on the order of " OMG, kill it now!' so I'm going with the belief/hope that is a good thing.

Thanks, I appreciate it!

Ever run into any issues? I just got some similar to this on frags. They stay on the underside of the pucks though and don’t appear to be near the coral.

 

[RabidDragon]

Ever run into any issues? I just got some similar to this on frags. They stay on the underside of the pucks though and don’t appear to be near the coral.

They have spread all over the tank. I see them on the crawling on the glass at night (if there is some algae build up on it) all the way up and above the water line. I believe they also create these egg like cocoons? all over on the glass which seem to have a 3 lobed faintly green thing develop inside the which turns spotted grey just before hatching. I've never seen them hatch.
If I shine a light on them at night they will frequently release from the glass and sink to the bottom.

They don't bother the fish at all, I'm sure my mandarin and wrasse eat them.

 

[sculpin01]

Also known as “sand skaters” and are beneficial detrivores.