Sand Fleas in Refuge and Aquarium?

[SteveMM62Reef]

I went to Ocean City, MD a month ago. Was hoping there would be Sargassum Macro Algae, so I could shake pods out of them, nothing for the Sargassum. I got some Sand Fleas, aka Surf Moles. While I was Quarantining them, noticed they died. Set the jar outside, noticed today it is full of them all about the size of finish nail head. Could I add the to Refuge, and I know they can end up in the Reef Aquarium?

 

[LouisianaReef]

Unless I'm thinking of something different, I think sand fleas are semi-aquatic. I don't think they will survive fully aquatic.

 

[PeterErc]

They are filter feeders and will not survive

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

They’ve been sitting in a jar for three weeks outside. No Surf Action, or Aeration, and Lids been on tight. It’s like they’ve been breeding. Also I’ve never saw any that were this size. Most were the size of the end of my thumb. BTW, I eaten them before, at that larger size.

 

[PeterErc]

The females carry eggs, maybe they hatched? The male looks totally different from the female.
Are they baby sand fleas or something else?
How do they taste?

 

[LouisianaReef]

LAMO "How do they taste"

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

The thumb size ones are between Florida Lobster a Gulf Shrimp in taste. Boiled them, Split to clean, and ate them with non-clarified butter.

 

[LouisianaReef]

The thumb size ones are between Florida Lobster a Gulf Shrimp in taste. Boiled them, Split to clean, and ate them with non-clarified butter.

Interesting

 

[PeterErc]

I use them for bait, never thought to eat one. My wife would get upset when I forget about them in my pocket and they make it to the dryer. I doubt she would ever try one. But a crab boil may be in order lol

 

[PeterErc]

Huh, quick google, recipe for chowder, I think I would make some poppers first, or smoked bacon wrapped mole crab.
MOLE CRAB CHOWDER

1 to 2 pounds of live mole crabs
2 cups of water
2 to 3 red onions, chopped
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 tablepsoon butter
½ teaspoon cilantro, minced
2 to 4 more cups of water
1 cup noodles, rice, or potatoes, not cooked
flour or toasted wheat flour

 

[EricR]

The thumb size ones are between Florida Lobster a Gulf Shrimp in taste. Boiled them, Split to clean, and ate them with non-clarified butter.

Interesting,,, never even thought to try to eat one. (Had to Google "sand fleas" but looks like what I've always called "sand crabs" at the beach).
FWIW, here in Southern California we find them anywhere from TINY (itch like heck when they try to dig into your ankles in the surf) to about the size of a golf ball stretched out a bit.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

They’ve been sitting in a jar for three weeks outside. No Surf Action, or Aeration, and Lids been on tight. It’s like they’ve been breeding. Also I’ve never saw any that were this size. Most were the size of the end of my thumb. BTW, I eaten them before, at that larger size.

That’s really interesting - I’ve always heard that they do very poorly in aquariums (which makes sense to me, given their lifestyle and diet in the wild). Any chance you could get some pics of them in their jar?

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

Couldn’t get a good picture in the jar, took one out though.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Couldn’t get a good picture in the jar, took one out though.

I can’t tell from the pics, but might that be an ostracod?

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

I can’t tell from the pics, but might that be an ostracod?

Thanks, that’s exactly what they look like, when swimming. Have to do some more research on them, before adding to Aquarium.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Thanks, that’s exactly what they look like, when swimming. Have to do some more research on them, before adding to Aquarium.

They should be harmless/beneficial.