Do i have Daphnia or Copepods?

JamesD · 04/23/2010, 07:17 AM

Per the title, i can regularly see large numbers of white 'specs' on the walls of my aquarium a few of which move when light is shined on them but have never seen any either on the substrate or on the rockwork day or night.

I do have amphipods whose population now seems stable after a large spike/crash. Having done some reading though it seems copepods should also be frequenting the rockwork as well as the glass. It's been suggested that what im seeing on the glass is actually daphnia - im unable to see any obvious anatomy (or shape for that matter) with the naked eye and they do not seem to exceed 1mm in length.

Any ideas?

BFG · 04/24/2010, 12:53 AM

Daphnia are from freshwater so that leaves with Copepod.

mscarpena · 04/24/2010, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BFG

Daphnia are from freshwater so that leaves with Copepod.

Agreed Daphnia are fresh water. Also there are a lot of little critters that are free swimming, move on my rocks, and on my glass. I really do not think you will ever Id all of them. If they are not causing any issues I would not worry about them.

angel-luver!! · 04/24/2010, 07:20 AM

id say probably coepepods or isopods. daphnia as far as im aware are only freshwater, also they usually swim in the water column not crawl on the glass.

JamesD · 04/24/2010, 09:36 AM

Thanks all

I wasn't so much concerned about whether they were good/bad - more intrigued as to what exactly they were as most threads i read regarding copepods suggest they can readily be seen on rockwork and sand yet ive only ever seen them on the glass so began wondering whether they were indeed copepods or some other critter. All i usually see on the rockwork are amphipods (in terms of pods at least)

04/23/2010, 07:17 AM	#1
JamesD Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Jersey, CI (UK) Posts: 23	Do i have Daphnia or Copepods? Per the title, i can regularly see large numbers of white 'specs' on the walls of my aquarium a few of which move when light is shined on them but have never seen any either on the substrate or on the rockwork day or night. I do have amphipods whose population now seems stable after a large spike/crash. Having done some reading though it seems copepods should also be frequenting the rockwork as well as the glass. It's been suggested that what im seeing on the glass is actually daphnia - im unable to see any obvious anatomy (or shape for that matter) with the naked eye and they do not seem to exceed 1mm in length. Any ideas?

04/24/2010, 12:53 AM	#2
BFG Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 700	Daphnia are from freshwater so that leaves with Copepod. __________________ If you've learnt, teach. If you have, give.

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04/24/2010, 07:20 AM	#4
angel-luver!! Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: united kingdom! Posts: 75	id say probably coepepods or isopods. daphnia as far as im aware are only freshwater, also they usually swim in the water column not crawl on the glass.

04/24/2010, 09:36 AM	#5
JamesD Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Jersey, CI (UK) Posts: 23	Thanks all I wasn't so much concerned about whether they were good/bad - more intrigued as to what exactly they were as most threads i read regarding copepods suggest they can readily be seen on rockwork and sand yet ive only ever seen them on the glass so began wondering whether they were indeed copepods or some other critter. All i usually see on the rockwork are amphipods (in terms of pods at least)