Bristleworm??????

GeorgiaMan

GeorgiaMan

All Salt!
Dec 6, 2005
103
0
0
59
Macon Georgia
Hi all,
I found something in my aquarium this morning that had me a little concerned. I found four or more little critters that were running around the bottom of my aquarium. They are whitish and have antennae and what appears to be lots of legs. the tail is curled down more like a shrimp. They are fast and are moving all in and out of crushed coral. I can't get a picture because they are too small and fast. Any suggestions or ideas would be appreciated. They don't really look like mantis shrimp but they are so small I don't know. Also they are in the same area of my aquarium.
 
I just found one next to the glass and I think they are mantis shrimp. I found two near the glass which means there could be "Lots" in there. What eats these things? I have a glass aquarium and do not want these things growing up to cause damage!
 
I had what you describe when my tank was new. They died off, never got to be a problem. From everything I read or hear they live in the substrate and eat hair algae (they never made a dent in mine, but they were all over it). I would not worry much.

By the way, I also have a three inch bristleworm I have seen under "moonlight" a couple of times. Initially I set a trap for it, but the worm is too smart to fall for that! I read in several places that there are only very few types that are actually dangerous to aquarium life, and that they are very, very rare and not found in aquarium live rock in a statistically measurable proportion. I'm letting mine be. What you have is not a bristleworm, but if you do find you have one it is not a cause for panic.
 
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Sounds like what you're describing are pods, not mantis shrimp. Mantis shrimp typically aren't that small--most will be around 1/2 inch or more. Pods are okay, not bad.
 
Yup, your describing amphipods which are very good for your tank, don't worry about them, they are harmless scavengers.
 
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