What is this bug?

[mizimmer90]

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]

pods…
(congrats, your system is maturing)

 

[Zach B]

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

 

[Poli]

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]

pods…
(congrats, your system is maturing)

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]

Isopod

 

[mizimmer90]

Isopod

Are those also good bugs?

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

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Are those also good bugs?

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

The search feature is your friend…

 

[MrGisonni]

Some sort of pod. Nice!

 

[mizimmer90]

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]

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]

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]

Looks like a munid isopod to me.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

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]

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]

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]

Here's an article by Ron Shimek...

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

 

[Tired]

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?