are these copepods?

[reefer gladness]

I just moved all my rock, corals and fish to a new tank a few days ago. Last night under the new and improved moonlights I noticed some activity on the sandbed and discovered a bunch of these critters apparently cleaning the sandbed. They seemed awfully big to be copepods though, the largest were about 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch long. Bodies are banded, they have a bunch of legs and antenna. I took this pic with a flash as they quickly hide under regular lights.

 

[steved13]

Look more like Amphipods to me. Amphipods get bigger also.

 

[reefer gladness]

good call Steve! Look like gammarid amphipods based on the photo in this link.

Innovative Marine Aquaculture

They sure were busy cleaners, glad to know they're there.

 

[BLADEYAMAHA]

copepods look like gnats.

 

[Ian Eisenberg]

Amphipods... my wrasse and my tang LOVE them!

 

[BigAl07]

Yes Amphipods and in the right conditions some of them do get quite large (not in our tanks usually LOL) but they are generally VERY good for your tank and a natural food supply for many things in our tanks (including coral).

Now what gets really big and gnarly would be some Isopods of the genus "Bathynomus" and specifically Bathynomus giganteus

Fortunately we don't get those in our tanks or at least they don't get that large and actually they are VERY deep water living organisms.

 

[Octoman]

And they have quite an affinity for nacho cheese...

 

[Willie McDaries]

I think I saw this guy in a couple different movies....once whooping up on Arnold Schwarzenegger and another time Danny Glover,but they both kicked his butt

 

[BigAl07]

I think I saw this guy in a couple different movies....once whooping up on Arnold Schwarzenegger and another time Danny Glover,but they both kicked his butt

It's funny how several "Sea Critters" have had starring roles in Hollywood movies. The movie ( think there were a couple of them) Tremors was possibly based on a giant "Eunicid Worm" which are occasionally found in our tanks as well. Unfortunately many of these have a nasty bite which is not only painful but due to some mild neurotoxins can cause long-term numbness in the bite area.

Here's an eye to eye-spot look at one up close

Here is one found in a tank on Oregon a few years back

 

[Willie McDaries]

yep,a lot of people don't realize that those aliens on TV are actually based on real live Earthly creatures.....of course those sea creatures could possible be aliens,there have been sightings of UFOs diving into the ocean

 

[BigAl07]

yep,a lot of people don't realize that those aliens on TV are actually based on real live Earthly creatures.....of course those sea creatures could possible be aliens,there have been sightings of UFOs diving into the ocean

That was actually ME! Because of my large "stature" I tend to make a big splash and people either think it's a UFO crashing or a whale splashing around in the ocean

 

[Willie McDaries]

:LOL: I ain't gonna comment on that Al

 

[dmatt88]

That was actually ME! Because of my large "stature" I tend to make a big splash and people either think it's a UFO crashing or a whale splashing around in the ocean

Hence the big in BigAl

..........I live my life as a warning to others.

 

[Watergunz]

Jesus those things are huge