ID please...Worms, larva, fish?

lg7228 · 08/27/2012, 08:33 PM

I grabbed the flashlight and pointed it at the tank as I usually do every single night to see things growing, moving, check on the mantis, etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXVRx...ature=youtu.be

Yes you read correct. I also have a juvenile mantis shrimp that I am actually in the process of catching.

Anyways, in front of the flash light I see these things fluttering. I ignored it at first because I thought it was flake food or some debris floating around. After about a minute or two I realize these things are just gathering in front of the light. Some of them are orange/red and the others are white/blueish.

Please someone help with the ID. I want to know if there are good or bad.

No I am off to try and catch the Mantis.

Thank you in advance for your help guys....

Fretfreak13 · 08/27/2012, 09:28 PM

They just look like copepods to me...

What other animals do you have in the tank besides your little pest? speaking of said pest, when you catch him please don't kill him. I guarantee someone on the mantis shrimp board here at RC will happily take him off of your hands.

lg7228 · 08/27/2012, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fretfreak13

They just look like copepods to me...

What other animals do you have in the tank besides your little pest? speaking of said pest, when you catch him please don't kill him. I guarantee someone on the mantis shrimp board here at RC will happily take him off of your hands.

I have a decent amount of feather dusters, couple of peppermint shrimp to help me eradicate the aiptasia that I have, 3 chromis, 2 hermits, 1 snail.

Anything in the tank now is a hitchhiker (even the mantis), except for the chromis and peppermint. I am still in my cycling process. The tank is only about a month old.

Once I catch the mother-flower he will not be killed, I am sure I will be making him a separate home in another tank.

Fretfreak13 · 08/27/2012, 09:37 PM

Good for you. They make awesome, interesting pets. I had a G.Chigara for a long time myself. =)

If not just copepods, they may also be baby peppermints. From what I hear they lay eggs like chickens and they hatch at night time. Our tanks don't have the sufficient foods and what not for them to grow, so the babies become free fish food.

lg7228 · 08/27/2012, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fretfreak13

From what I hear they lay eggs like chickens and they hatch at night time.

Now that you mention it, I had a peppermint that passed away a couple of days ago. I am pretty sure she was pregnant or at least that is what the dude at the LFS lead me to believe. I do not think my chromis have had a go at them because they are still squirming around. Is there a way to keep the alive?

Fretfreak13 · 08/27/2012, 09:44 PM

I'm not sure, personally. I would do a search on them in the breeding board and see what pops up. I'm sure someone has tried it before and has posted something.

lg7228 · 08/28/2012, 09:44 AM

Bump...

Reeffuzz · 08/28/2012, 10:09 AM

Look like copepods to me as well! Good luck with the Mantis!

Sugar Magnolia · 08/28/2012, 10:40 AM

Looks like epitokes to me. They are part of the reproductive cycle of polychaete worms. Harmless.

SNAKEMANVET · 08/28/2012, 12:41 PM

I agree with sugar magnolia,I have seen these in my tank.

08/27/2012, 08:33 PM	#1
lg7228 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Homestead, FL Posts: 83	ID please...Worms, larva, fish? I grabbed the flashlight and pointed it at the tank as I usually do every single night to see things growing, moving, check on the mantis, etc. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXVRx...ature=youtu.be Yes you read correct. I also have a juvenile mantis shrimp that I am actually in the process of catching. Anyways, in front of the flash light I see these things fluttering. I ignored it at first because I thought it was flake food or some debris floating around. After about a minute or two I realize these things are just gathering in front of the light. Some of them are orange/red and the others are white/blueish. Please someone help with the ID. I want to know if there are good or bad. No I am off to try and catch the Mantis. Thank you in advance for your help guys....

08/27/2012, 09:28 PM	#2
Fretfreak13 I am not a boy! Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,114	They just look like copepods to me... What other animals do you have in the tank besides your little pest? speaking of said pest, when you catch him please don't kill him. I guarantee someone on the mantis shrimp board here at RC will happily take him off of your hands. __________________ ~Kali Just keep swimmin'

08/27/2012, 09:37 PM	#4
Fretfreak13 I am not a boy! Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,114	Good for you. They make awesome, interesting pets. I had a G.Chigara for a long time myself. =) If not just copepods, they may also be baby peppermints. From what I hear they lay eggs like chickens and they hatch at night time. Our tanks don't have the sufficient foods and what not for them to grow, so the babies become free fish food. __________________ ~Kali Just keep swimmin'

08/27/2012, 09:44 PM	#6
Fretfreak13 I am not a boy! Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,114	I'm not sure, personally. I would do a search on them in the breeding board and see what pops up. I'm sure someone has tried it before and has posted something. __________________ ~Kali Just keep swimmin'

08/28/2012, 10:40 AM	#9
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Looks like epitokes to me. They are part of the reproductive cycle of polychaete worms. Harmless. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

08/28/2012, 09:44 AM	#7
lg7228 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Homestead, FL Posts: 83	Bump...

08/28/2012, 10:09 AM	#8
Reeffuzz Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Tempe,AZ Posts: 13	Look like copepods to me as well! Good luck with the Mantis!

08/28/2012, 12:41 PM	#10
SNAKEMANVET PREMIUM MEMBER Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: TRENTON Tn Posts: 4,486	I agree with sugar magnolia,I have seen these in my tank.