Cave building amphipod/crustacean

[wombat1]

This is some type of crustacean that happened to build its little cave right up against the glass. At first glance it appears to be a Gammarus amphipod, but I'm pretty sure it's not. It has white and dark patches rather than gray all over, and its antennae are red. It has two openings to its "cave", and it periodically flips over and sticks its antennae out either side. I have yet to observe it during feeding time. Anyone have a guess as to what this is?


BTW, if it's a new species I'm naming it X mutalipassii after my boss Mike Mutalipassi

 

[Len]

My guess: Ceradocus dooliba.

Asking someone to ID an amphipd, especially based on pictures, is awefully optimistic of you

 

[Bleeding Blue]

Here are some pics throught the microscope.

 

[Bleeding Blue]

Admittedly, I just wanted to try and take photos of something in the tank through the scope. I also took video, but I don't think I can put it rdo.

Mike

 

[wombat1]

Cool pics Mike, thanks! I take it the camera started working again, eh? Len, are these a common hitchhiker? I've never seen or heard of one before, and I certainly wouldn't have known now if it hadn't built its cave in such a lucky place. Next I need to take a pic of the spaghetti worm riding on my hermit crab's new shell...the shell was half buried when the crab decided to use it.

 

[Anonymous]

Cool Photo's 8)

 

[Anonymous]

Just an update on these guys...there are probably two dozen in the tank now, and it seems that they all like to build their caves against the glass. They periodically move from their old shelters to new ones, and some of their caves go as deep as an inch and a half into the substrate. They're great little sand stirrers, whatever they are.

 

[mkirda]

Different guy, but similar burrow.

What a face!

 

[Anonymous]

Cool!

 

[investigator1]

Aquatics Warehouse sells them for $25.00 each! They have them labeled as sand shrimp.

 

[mkirda]

Aquatics Warehouse sells them for $25.00 each! They have them labeled as sand shrimp.

They can see them to catch them? This guy was not even the size of an uncooked grain of rice.

Regards.
Mike Kirda

 

[Anonymous]

Sheesh, I could make a fortune! The original source of these was a 180 gallon reef tank at my campus. I took about a pint glass full of sand from the refugium for my 6 gallon, and got about 20 or so of these guys. I also have a 12 gallon at home, with another 10-15 of these guys from another pint glass of sand. Some of them get as large as amphipods, but most are tiny like Mike said. I'll cut a super deal and sell a pint of sand for the low, low price of $200

 

[investigator1]

The ones I saw that look exactly the same get much bigger. They were approximately 2" long.

 

[mkirda]

The ones I saw that look exactly the same get much bigger. They were approximately 2" long.

Huh. This is not the same species at all. The scan was not particularly well-focused, but the grains of sand you can see around it are Southdown, so you know that they are TINY.

Note: Film geek details follow... The shot was taken with a reversed 20mm lens, so the magnification on film is 5:1. It was a difficult shot, having to focus manually using a flashlight to get enough light on it to focus, then stopping the lens down to f22, putting the flash to within an inch of it, then taking the photo. All while hoping it doesn't move very much, as you only have about maybe 1/32nd of an inch actually in focus.

Regards.
Mike Kirda