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kdpuffer

Aquarium Advice Addict
Joined
May 8, 2011
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Hey all, sorry but I don't have pics so I have to describe what I found. First off I have a torch coral that has a thin layer of its skeleton that appears to be flaking off, while looking closer I realized it actually moves which is when I noticed what appears to be a mantle. I suspect it is a type of clam and it is perfectly fitted/matched to the coral skeleton. Has anyone ever heard of or seen a clam like this? The second critter appears to be shrimp/lobster, no they are not amphipods or isopods. They are about 1/8 of inch long or smaller and like I said look like little shrimp/lobsters. They have a tail just like a shrimp/lobster and are transparent/white. They move fast and stay in or close to cover. I can't get a pic as they move so fast. Any help or suggestions are welcome and encouraged.
 
I'm guessing that shrimp looking this is a copepod. I have some that get to be about 1/8 inch long or so. As for the clam looking thing idk. I had a live rock many years ago that after quite a few months in my tank suddenly started opening and closing. Turned out there was some sort if bivalve/mollusk inside that was the rock itself. It was about 4 inches wide and 3 inches tall and it made the rock split in the middle and opened and closed and you could see the insides looked just like a scallop when it would stay open.
 
It could be the mollusk you mentioned. I don't think the critters are Copepods though. I have pods in the tank and these are very different, like I say they look exactly like a shrimp or lobster. I do have shrimp (1-cleaner, 1-peppermint) and its unlikely they bred lol. It's possible these things are a type of pod but they look different from copepod, amphipod, and isopod.
 
Keithhjs said:
I'm guessing that shrimp looking this is a copepod. I have some that get to be about 1/8 inch long or so. As for the clam looking thing idk. I had a live rock many years ago that after quite a few months in my tank suddenly started opening and closing. Turned out there was some sort if bivalve/mollusk inside that was the rock itself. It was about 4 inches wide and 3 inches tall and it made the rock split in the middle and opened and closed and you could see the insides looked just like a scallop when it would stay open.

After another guy mentioned Copepods I looked into it, I am accustomed to seeing them as tiny white dots on my glass but I think that's what they are. Sorry to doubt you Keith.
 
No worries, I didn't feel I was even doubted, lol. There are so many critters in a reef some times it's a guessing game :)
 
Thought I'd post a couple pics of this pod I saw in my fuge filter pad tonight. It's about 1/4 inch or so.
 

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