in the last month I have seen a bloom of little critters, this thing worries me some.

I think its a shrimp of some type, but I can't seem to identify it. I pray that its not a baby mantis shrimp. it pops in and out of the hole and eats the pods that get too close.

any clue as to what it is, I will try to get a better picture, its only about a quarter of an inch now.

amphipods and the like. perfectly fine

checkout "chuck's addiction amphipods" with google and it should get you there.

It looks like a colored amphipod hmmmmm, hope it not a baby mantis, i've never seen one.
It probably is an amiphipod they always stay kinda of scrunched up like that.

I checked it out, very helpful site. yeah its an amphipod.

thanks

gammarid amphipod. They remind me of crickets. Mantis shrimp are rare hitchhikers.