fishy610 Posted April 18, 2005 Share Posted April 18, 2005 I have found a few dozen (maybe more) ant-like creatures that only come out at night and wander across the sand. They're about 1/4" long, translucent with a brownish skin on top and look like a cross-breed of ant and shrimp (they do have a little curled rear end). They only come out at night (totally non-visble at daytime) and seem to wander around and feed on something on the substrate. I have just one skunk cleaner in my tank and they almost look like it (without the whiskers). Could it be baby shrimp? Some kind of pod? Or just a harmless sand dweller? Link to comment
aleiodubua Posted April 18, 2005 Share Posted April 18, 2005 Well I'm not a expert by any means, and I"m also very new to reefing. But my tank has the same thing happening, and I was told it was a type of pod. Hope that helps. Link to comment
fishy610 Posted April 18, 2005 Author Share Posted April 18, 2005 Yea, it looks like amphipods (did some research), not really like baby mantis (at least I hope so!!) Link to comment
aleiodubua Posted April 18, 2005 Share Posted April 18, 2005 I'm just curious as to how often mantis make their poping noise. I sometimes hear a poping, maybe once a day, but I've never seen what's made the noise, and any sight of a mantis. I do have a small clam/oyster (hasn't been id'd), curious if it's that closing. I hope I don't have a mantis. Link to comment
fishy610 Posted April 18, 2005 Author Share Posted April 18, 2005 You know what? Now that you bring it up... I did hear some clicking recently! It sounds like short electric zap and I thought first that it might be evap that hit the bulbs (altough unlikely, because I have a glass hood and the lights have a protective screen as well. Could it be? *shudder* Link to comment
aleiodubua Posted April 18, 2005 Share Posted April 18, 2005 Well my popping is not very loud, just enough to get my attention. I'm going to cry if it's a mantis though. The thought of buy about $100 worth of fish just to be feeder food for the mantis is going to be sad. Link to comment
EtOH_is_good Posted April 18, 2005 Share Posted April 18, 2005 fishy, you have pods. i don't like the ones that you are talking about because they will chew on healthy zoa polyps. Link to comment
natejonesis Posted April 18, 2005 Share Posted April 18, 2005 Shrimp/Ants?? Sounds like amphipods to me. As for the popping sound, don't be paranoid about Mantis Shrimp. I did my first tank recently and I was freaked out when I got my rock about Mantises. Every pop that my tank heater or room air conditioner made I looked in my tank. Truth is they're not that common and if you do get one you're kinda lucky because a lot of people will trade good corals to get one. Hell, they'll come to your house catch it for themselves and then trade you coral. Link to comment
Kogut Posted April 18, 2005 Share Posted April 18, 2005 Or buy yo' bad self a dottyback. They eat mantis for snacks. Hehe. You have pods, btw. I always want/need more... The mandarin requires it. Link to comment
Diatome Posted April 18, 2005 Share Posted April 18, 2005 Probably pods but I have seen mud shrimp turn up where people thought they were pods. My tank is full of skeleton shrimp. Harmless little guys and fascinating. Also breed fast enough to be frequent snacks for my livestock. Here is a great site for soe photos for ID's http://www.dnr.state.sc.us/marine/sertc/gallery.htm Link to comment
natejonesis Posted April 18, 2005 Share Posted April 18, 2005 Etoh, you're right. Who would have thought. The larger of the amphipods often do attack zoa tenticles when they don't have to worry about predators. I saw it happen in my tank this morning. I then looked it up on wetwebmedia and sure enough...... Link to comment
EtOH_is_good Posted April 18, 2005 Share Posted April 18, 2005 yes, hate to have to retract previous statements about all pods being harmless. of course, using all is somewhat inaccurate in most cases. Link to comment
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