little pests?

[rabbydab]

I've been noticing in my smaller 18 gallon tank when I clean the glass and some of the sand on the bottom little tiny shrimp moltings have been coming up in the water. I see these little guys running around at night when the lights are turned off in the tanks but it seems like there are more and more. Are these things pests? if so how do I get rid of them.

Another question. I know bristle worms are bad and I think I've seen one in my live rock before. I just had an anenome die on me that I had for months now. When I went to remove it I saw that the foot of the anenome was raw like it had been picked at. Could any of these pests have done this?

Thank you!

[fishfreek]

sounds like you got a case of the amphipods or copepods. They are fine for the tank and infact show that your tank i a healthy enviorment.

I know bristle worms are bad

Really.

I never felt they where bad. They are great detravores in that they clean up fish waste, uneaten food, and dead and decaying items from the tank. If the anenome was dieing or dead the worms would have been doing what they do naturally. Eat dead or decaying material.

Personally I would not blam 'common' bristleworm on the anenome dieng. Anenomes seldom do well in a tank and often die of starvation due to lack of food and/or poor light conditions.