Thomasweaver Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 Not sure what these are but they are neon electric blue, you can barely see them with the naked eye. I saw something similar that looked a little shrimp like that was larger. Not sure if these are some sort of blue copepods, amphipods, or Isopods? They are all over the rocks. Any idea? I've never experienced anything like them before. They move very slowly some are stationary. Link to comment
Deleted User 8 Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 Can you grab one of them and get some shots outside the tank? Looks like some kind of flatworm or nudie? Hard to tell from the pics. I hope they are harmless because they look cool. Pretty color! Buzz Link to comment
Mr. Microscope Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 Can you grab one of them and get some shots outside the tank? Looks like some kind of flatworm or nudie? Hard to tell from the pics. I hope they are harmless because they look cool. Pretty color! Buzz Lol! Was thinking the exact same thing. My other thought from your shrimp-like description could be some sort of isopod? Hard to tell from the pics. Can you get a clearer image? Link to comment
Thomasweaver Posted December 13, 2014 Author Share Posted December 13, 2014 Unfortunately I have tried several cameras theta re so tiny I can't get a close up shot. They have an almost bioluminescence to them. I might need a microscope mr. Microsope! Link to comment
Mr. Microscope Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 If you can collect some and send them to me, I'd be happy to oblige. PM me if you're interested. I'm very curious about these things. Link to comment
Mariaface Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 They look cool as hell. Have you figured out what they eat yet? Link to comment
HIppieRose Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 Hope they are harmless cause they are so cool. Link to comment
NorthGaHillbilly Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 Any clue where they came in from? Recent additions to the tank? Link to comment
Red_Blenny Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 Those are some neat hitchhikers. I hope they're harmless for ya. Link to comment
farkwar Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 Look like blurry nudis to me. Do you have any blue zoas, palys, or corals. Nudis take on the color of what they eat. Suck one up, squirt it into some hydrogen peroxide.. if it disintegrates, most probably a nudibranch. Link to comment
Thomasweaver Posted December 13, 2014 Author Share Posted December 13, 2014 I took some off of a rock with a syringe and put them in a glass. They immediately changed color to clear. I got a few shots of them in that state as close as I could get and I'm going to say that they are some sort of flatworm. The shrimp like looking item I saw earlier I think may have been a amphipod? possibly just grazing by them. I'll post some of the pics I got from the glass. Actually the video looks better than the pics and you can see the movement. I'm uploading on youtube now. Let me know if you agree on a form of flatworm. Now these are are about the size of a grain of sand, the longest I've seen is about 3 grains of sand long. They are ALL over my rocks, literally everywhere. i do not see any of them on my corals at all. I did have 2 camel shrimp and 2 sexy shrimp die recently. I did have some fish die a couple weeks ago, not sure if any of this is related. Two fire fish, a chromis, and a yellow clown goby have disappeared in the last few weeks, I didn't see any bodies to diagnose their death. Sorry everyone I'm new to the site, I really appreciate your feedback! I have a 16g Innovative Marine Nuvo 16. It's 6 months old was doing very well before this explosion besides the choraline algae growing pretty slowly. I have a carpet anemone in the tank which was a horrible mistake (thanks to my boyfriend picking it out!). So the fish I have in the tank are damsels, chromis, and a watchman goby (not getting any more expensive fish until annie the anemone is moved to a larger tank. I'll post some pics of the tank in a bit. Link to comment
Mr. Microscope Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 Video set to private? Link to comment
Thomasweaver Posted December 13, 2014 Author Share Posted December 13, 2014 Oops my first YouTube video. Try now Link to comment
Mr. Microscope Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 Hmm.. They do look like flatworms, but wow! That's fast for a flatworm. Link to comment
Thomasweaver Posted December 13, 2014 Author Share Posted December 13, 2014 And they are color changing? Wow. You see in my original pics they are neon electric blue. Hmm so if they are flat worms what's next. Flatworm exit and a six line wrasse army? Link to comment
Nano sapiens Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 There are many types of flatworms and some are nasty, but most are relatively benign. If they are not bothering your corals, then no immediate worries. Over populations are typically self-limiting and usually subside over time. Just need to figure out what they are feeding off of and limit the food supply. With the very common red planaria flatworms they are actually quite toxic and killing them off all at once can be bad for the reef tank. I had them once many years ago and used to siphon out whatever I could see every day or two and they subsided, then disappeared, after a few short weeks of reduced tank feedings. Link to comment
Thomasweaver Posted December 13, 2014 Author Share Posted December 13, 2014 Look like blurry nudis to me. Do you have any blue zoas, palys, or corals. Nudis take on the color of what they eat Suck one up, squirt it into some hydrogen peroxide.. if it disintegrates, most probably a nudibranch. Thanks no blue corals/ Zoas. Interesting to know though! There are many types of flatworms and some nasty, but most are relatively benign. If they are not bothering your corals then no immediate worries. Overpopulations are typically self-limiting and usually subside over time. Just need to figure out what they are feeding off of and limit the food supply. With the very common red planaria flatworms they are actually quite toxic and killing them off all at once can be bad for the reef tank. I had them once many years ago and used to siphon our whatever I could see every day or two and they subsided, then disappeared, after a few short weeks of reduced tank feedings. Thanks so much I appreciate your feedback! Sounds like a good plan. Link to comment
Weasel Baron Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 they likely have some degree of iridescence and were reflecting your aquarium light back at you, hence the 'color change' Link to comment
ETucc Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 Please keep us updated. I've never seen anything like this. Link to comment
Mr. Microscope Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 +1 to Nano Sapiens. Don't jump the gun on treatment. Likely, the population will wain in time. They're definitely not the type people worry about if they are indeed flatworms. Link to comment
Thomasweaver Posted December 14, 2014 Author Share Posted December 14, 2014 Thanks everyone! I feel much more relieved that they aren't something harmless. I really appreciate your help! Link to comment
Pinner Reef Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 Woah! Those are really cool/different! I've never seen any flatworms move that quick either. Cool lil species there. Like everyone else said, I say just let them be and they will likely self regulate in terms of population. Unless your coral show signs of stress. Link to comment
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