amphipod wars!? What are they doing?!

ohbubbles! · 10/12/2006, 01:02 PM

My amphipods are going crazy! My tank has been set up for 3 months now and I have yet to add anything too it other than live rock and some phytoplankton for all my featherdusters. Watching these pods has been so much fun and they are multiplying like crazy. Anyway, today they are all scurrying around and attacking/mating/molting? I keep seeing them curling into balls and rolling on their backs them another pods would get to close and they would lunge at each other then run away. Do amphipods have some sort of sexual frenzy going on or do they periodically attack each other? I have seen lots of molting going on but I can't imagine that they molt simultaneously. Anyone know of a great amphipod link or know what it going on? Thanks!

geekreef_05 · 10/12/2006, 01:12 PM

lol.
go pods!

...sounds like a good start to your reef. try not to let those critters die and keep up the phyto feedings!

bertoni · 10/12/2006, 03:15 PM

Well, they do eat each other from time to time, so that's probably one issue. As the tank matures, often the food source for amphipods (decaying die-off) drops off, which might lead to some starvation and aggression. All in all, I wouldn't worry too much.

papagimp · 10/12/2006, 03:29 PM

Sounds like me and my three brothers when we were growing up. I think they're playing. havn't you guys ever played "pod-ball"?

10/12/2006, 01:02 PM	#1
ohbubbles! Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: MA Posts: 45	amphipod wars!? What are they doing?! My amphipods are going crazy! My tank has been set up for 3 months now and I have yet to add anything too it other than live rock and some phytoplankton for all my featherdusters. Watching these pods has been so much fun and they are multiplying like crazy. Anyway, today they are all scurrying around and attacking/mating/molting? I keep seeing them curling into balls and rolling on their backs them another pods would get to close and they would lunge at each other then run away. Do amphipods have some sort of sexual frenzy going on or do they periodically attack each other? I have seen lots of molting going on but I can't imagine that they molt simultaneously. Anyone know of a great amphipod link or know what it going on? Thanks!

10/12/2006, 01:12 PM	#2
geekreef_05 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 626	lol. go pods! ...sounds like a good start to your reef. try not to let those critters die and keep up the phyto feedings! __________________ A good aquarium is like a beautiful woman. Shes nice to look at but requires daily attention and constantly leaves you broke. Current Tank Info: 15H Mixed Reef, 150 HQI, 25lbs Vanuatu, SSB; 60 gal FOWLR 'Tap Water' Show Tank; 33L Skimmerless Softie Reef w/ BTA, 50/50 PC's, 70lbs Indo

10/12/2006, 03:15 PM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Well, they do eat each other from time to time, so that's probably one issue. As the tank matures, often the food source for amphipods (decaying die-off) drops off, which might lead to some starvation and aggression. All in all, I wouldn't worry too much. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

10/12/2006, 03:29 PM	#4
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	Sounds like me and my three brothers when we were growing up. I think they're playing. havn't you guys ever played "pod-ball"? __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011