Weird Creatures???

[Billan]

I have recently noticed some new additions to my tank. I have a couple hundred of these small 1/8 to 1/4 inch in size shrimp-like things that are clear with a black stripe through them. They have 6 legs, 3 on each side, two tentacles from the head and two black eyes. They do not swim but they gather around my anenome and around any food that falls to the bottom. They are very quick and grow larger and larger by the day. They appear both at night and in full light. The only thing that I have added to my tank recently is some star polyps. I do have a cleaner shrimp and a flame shrimp in the tank but I do not think that they could be from them. Are these animals bad for my tank? What are they called? If they are bad what will eat them? Thanks for the info.

 

[seasailor]

Sounds like some form of copepod. Not bad, good. Their population is pretty much regulated by the amount of detritus available. Good food for gobies and blennies.

Cheers, Charles

 

[Anonymous]

Copepod?!? Wow...I'd love to grow 1/4" copepods

Do they look like the amphipod in this pic??