What are these??

[Gavin1274]

Hello everyone, can anyone identify what these little creatures are? They are all I’ve the place I have a ton of copepods in my tank because it is currently fallow... but a week or more ago these little guys started popping up and they are a lot different than the others and are very small and darker in color... thank you for any help

 

[Dsnakes]

Looks to be copepods and amphipods in that picture.

 

[stanleo]

The ones on the glass: the smaller ones look like copepods, maybe. The bigger ones with all the legs are definitely munnid isopods. Both good critters.

The ones on the white coral putty look like red bugs. Those are bad and you want to get rid of them.

 

[Gavin1274]

The ones on the glass: the smaller ones look like copepods, maybe. The bigger ones with all the legs are definitely munnid isopods. Both good critters.

The ones on the white coral putty look like red bugs. Those are bad and you want to get rid of them.

I don’t understand how a new critter like that could have shown up during this time, I haven’t put anything new in the tank in a few months now

 

[IKD]

I don’t understand how a new critter like that could have shown up during this time, I haven’t put anything new in the tank in a few months now

Likely been there but being eaten by your previous livestock and populations exploded when predators disappeared.

 

[Gavin1274]

Likely been there but being eaten by your previous livestock and populations exploded when predators disappeared.

Is it for sure red bug??

 

[IKD]

Is it for sure red bug??

Hard to tell from the picture. Do you have any acro’s in your tank? There are treatments on the forum though if can get a better look at them and compare to pictures

 

[Gavin1274]

Hard to tell from the picture. Do you have any acro’s in your tank? There are treatments on the forum though if can get a better look at them and compare to pictures

Yes there are. It is really hard to tell because how small they are. I thought they were the same small bug as on the glass since they appeared at almost the same time as eachother but maybe not. Once I add my fish back could they be gone again like they once were?

 

[DSC reef]

I can't see red bugs and unless your acros are suffering I would not treat unless you can get some out for a positive ID. I see pods and munnid isopods

 

[reef lover]

Ostracod theyre good.

 

[IKD]

I agree with DSC Reef. I wouldn’t treat unless you can confirm. They should be easier to distinguish with the naked eye. Are any of them hanging on your acros? If not, probably just more beneficial critters.

 

[stanleo]

I don’t understand how a new critter like that could have shown up during this time, I haven’t put anything new in the tank in a few months now

I am certainly no expert about this. I know those are copepods and isopods because I have them. If the others are saying they are not red bugs then it's likely they are not. I just thought I could see them as red and so made that leap.