OMG!! Shrimp!??

[shellieca]

I just found this when I dumped the water from a water change in my 10g tank! I happened to dump the water in the sink instead of outside & I saw something move. I've NEVER added any shrimp to any of my tanks so I'm guessing they hitched in on plants months ago. I looked at the tank I saw 3 or 4 scurrying around. I guess I need to quit vacing the gravel.

Is it a shrimp? Too tiny to tell what kind?

 

[BBouchard]

I want to say baby ghosy

 

[BBouchard]

Ghost shrimp. That's what it looks like at least.

 

[aquarium_Guru]

Looks like a tick lol dosent look like a ghost shrimp

 

[bytehead]

Looks like daphnia to my eye. Big ones, but I've seen big ones that size before.

This is to the OP. Why it decided to post under yours, I dunno.

 

[Autumnsky]

Water flea/Daphnia looks like. Cool!

 

[shellieca]

Hmmm. Never thought of daphnia. The only ones of those I've seen are the itty bitty frozen ones. I'll have to do some googling.

 

[Fresh2o]

Google Gammarus Shrimp or Amphipod and I think you will get a match. Not usually present in tanks with fish unless there is sufficient plants/hiding spots. Sometimes found in shrimp only tanks. I think the only knock against them is that they can eat moss (if that is a problem).

 

[Fresh2o]

Oh, if you ever go to the beach, in the wet sand you will often find a SW variety of what you have in your tank.

 

[shellieca]

Google Gammarus Shrimp or Amphipod and I think you will get a match. Not usually present in tanks with fish unless there is sufficient plants/hiding spots. Sometimes found in shrimp only tanks. I think the only knock against them is that they can eat moss (if that is a problem).

That does look like it. Very interesting. I'm not finding any info on anything bad about them doI guess I'll be leaving them alone . . . . for now. Thanks for the tip!

 

[Fresh2o]

I found the moss reference on an invert/shrimp forum. Some find them a nuisance in a no fish tank because their numbers can get out of hand.

They make great fish snacks (if they can be caught).

 

[Maxw47]

It looks like a little scud.

 

[Khuligirl93]

Looks like an ostracod, known as seed shrimp. I have them too but they're harmless

 

[Fdsh5]

I have seed shrimp and other assorted "pests" in my shrimp only tank. They are harmless. I take a brine shrimp net and scoop them out when they get unsightly. They make a great snack for my other fish. I swear they know what it is when they see that net coming.

 

[bytehead]

I swear they know what it is when they see that net coming.

The seed shrimp or the fish?

 

[Fdsh5]

My angelfish. Lol didn't really clarify that one. They see the shrimp net and start circling the top of the tank like sharks.

 

[aluka]

It looks like a little scud.

+1

it eats moss, and when big enough will eat shrimplets.

 

[shellieca]

Thanks everyone!! I was just so surprised to find this little creature at all. I have seen them in both of my 10g tanks & neither tank has or ever has had shrimp. I'll just keep an eye out to make sure they don't over populate.