HELP WITH ANOTHER CREATURE

[RICKY81]

i have had some pink lemonade paly's for about 6 months already and they were doing really good until about a week ago that they started to die off. A few minutes ago when my lights turned off i went over to the tank and was watching (moonlights on) when i noticed some very small creatures on the pink lemonades one that measured about 1/4 inch and another one about 1/8 inch, they are clear with four legs and 2 arms (something like roaches but clear and curved) and as soon as i turned on the lights (T5's) they ran:bareteeth: very very fast behind the rocks. then i turned the lights off and they come out turned them on and they hide.... what could this things be? are they good/or bad? what can i do about them. tried taking a picture but couldn't get them.....thanks for any information provided. tank has been running for about 1.4yrs ( i have other zoas and palys and they are doing good)

[Joshua]

Sounds like Amphipods, they're good.

[SoLiD]

Yes, Amphipods are good little scavengers. There was some people on Reef Central that said that they were eating their zoa's too, but I think was only because they saw them around the Zoanthids also. They usually hide underneath the zoas in the rock crevices. With the zoas disappearing, you can finally see them. If you you still think that you want them reduced in numbers; Six Line and Yellow Coris Wrasses will make a dent of their populations.

-David

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ZoanthidFAQs2.htm

Amphipod

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/Arthropoda/CrustaceanPIX/SWShrimpPIX/gammashrimppic-1.jpg

http://www.reef-eden.net/Amphipod1.jpg

[Euclid]

I've got tons of those things in my fuge

[Mr Cob]

Those are pods...either Amphipods or tiger pods, copepods...none the less...PODS.

Very good and will eat detritus build up and feed your fish. Mandarins thrive on them!

Pods are a good sign. These are the type of creatures we seek to have in our refugiums.

[CynthiaM]

You might want to inspect the rock where the coral is attach........look for asterina starfish. I inspect my zoas or palys when they are closed or they are diminishing, and the only thing I have found munching on them are this small starfishes. What I do is, use a magnifying glass to check thoroughly......and usually find them and their little offsprings (arms)....that's how they reproduce. Also, after the inspection, I dip them in mixture of iodine and tank water....let them sit in solution for about 10 to 15 minutes and inspect again. This also helps if any other pests are lurking around.

[Joshua]

Yeah if that colony is having trouble check for the sundial snails, sea spiders (they'll be obvious), and those little zoanthid eating nudibranches which you'll have to look pretty hard for. Also look for little rings of eggs (from the nudis) that look like a snail egg trail.

[RICKY81]

yup those pictures definetly do match the creatures that i saw in my tank.. i looked up all the possible creatures that all u guys mentioned and what i do seem to have are tons of brittle starfish (very small) and asterina starfish. but haven't seen them lurking around them.... but i guess i shall try the dip it's work the shot. from about 16 polyps that it had they are now down to about 4-5 polyps .... thanks for the info..

[profntbtr]

yeah asterinas have eaten a gang of my zoos i got a harlequin to eat them, but he disappeared which probably means he's dead. it didn't help that he was about half an inch long. The disadvantage of mail order you never know exactly how big what you're getting is.