strange bug in my new shipment

[chazsgirl]

I received 10 yellow shrimp and in the bag with them was some plants and some crawing greyish black very small bugs, about the sz of a fire ant, there were a few of them, sorry no pics too small and too fast to catch, does it sound like they are anything bad? I put the shrimp in their own tank by catching them with a spoon and making sure not to get any of the bugs. does anyone have an idea on what they could be?

[Sounguru]

Without pics it is hard but they could be something lie damsel fly larva I have been fighting those...

[Notophthalmus]

Do they look like this?

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z161/Newt1453/65%20gallon%20renovation/65n.jpg

This is a freshwater amphipod, AKA scud. They are harmless.

[val1300]

Thanks for posting this pic -- I've had these in 3 of my tanks for months! Water changes reduced the population but I could not eradicate them. Plus, they took up residence in the HOB filters. They are still there, but in much smaller numbers.

[Notophthalmus]

They make good fish food. If your populations are large it may be a sign that your are overfeeding your fish, but a small population is nothing to worry about.

[cam191919]

i like scuds, ecpecially when the ctenopomas gets em :D