What is this bug?

mizimmer90 · Dec 24, 2022

I noticed some large bugs in my tank this morning. They're long and swimming around the rocks and glass.

What are these? Is this just an extremely large copepod? Or a baby bristle worm?

Here's a photo and a video:

ChiCity · Dec 24, 2022

pods…
(congrats, your system is maturing)

Zach B · Dec 24, 2022

Looks like an amphipod to me which are a normal part of a cleanup crew. Best of luck

Poli · Dec 24, 2022

ChiCity said:
pods…
(congrats, your system is maturing)

I have a lot of rocks could I try to develop pods right into the tank? My tank is fully matured. 75 gallons. Any opinions????

mizimmer90 · Dec 24, 2022

ChiCity said:
pods…
(congrats, your system is maturing)

Zach B said:
Looks like an amphipod to me which are a normal part of a cleanup crew. Best of luck

Hooray!! Thanks for the ID!

Didn't expect these guys to be so large lol

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · Dec 24, 2022

Isopod

mizimmer90 · Dec 25, 2022

Erin1971Texas said:
Isopod

Are those also good bugs?

I'm amazed at the variety of bugs in reefs haha

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · Dec 25, 2022

mizimmer90 said:
Are those also good bugs?

I'm amazed at the variety of bugs in reefs haha

The search feature is your friend…

MrGisonni · Dec 25, 2022

Some sort of pod. Nice!

mizimmer90 · Dec 25, 2022

Erin1971Texas said:
The search feature is your friend…

Searching, I found threads of people nuking their tank to get rid of isopods but I'm skeptical that they're pests. Hence, I ask someone who seems more familiar with them! Expert advice is better than random advice

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · Dec 25, 2022

What is that!! A R2R guide to common new tank hitchhikers.

One of the greatest things about starting a reef tank is getting your live rock in and admiring all the diversity within it. The rock comes to life different creatures. This is a guide that I, along with a very well known critter identifier @KJ , have put together for the new reefer on what...

www.reef2reef.com

Blake509 · Dec 25, 2022

mizimmer90 said:
Searching, I found threads of people nuking their tank to get rid of isopods but I'm skeptical that they're pests. Hence, I ask someone who seems more familiar with them! Expert advice is better than random advice

They can be fish parasites but I think you have amphipod not isopod which is harmless

HomebroodExotics · Dec 25, 2022

Looks like a munid isopod to me.

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · Dec 25, 2022

Blake509 said:
They can be fish parasites but I think you have amphipod not isopod which is harmless

Amphipods are rounded, like shrimp. Isopods are flat and symmetrical. The photo above is of an isopod.

mizimmer90 · Dec 25, 2022

Erin1971Texas said:
Amphipods are rounded, like shrimp. Isopods are flat and symmetrical. The photo above is of an isopod.

Yes! This is the kind of info I'm looking for! What book is this from?

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · Dec 25, 2022

mizimmer90 said:
Yes! This is the kind of info I'm looking for! What book is this from?

It's from another forum... I did a Google search for isopod vs amphipod...

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · Dec 25, 2022

Here's an article by Ron Shimek...

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-05/rs/index.htm

Tired · Dec 25, 2022

Most isopods are harmless. The ones you're seeing people nuke tanks over are a very stubborn parasitic species that looks nothing like that. Yours might be a munnid?