Please help me ID this 'bug'

[fishchemist]

Hi,

I started cycling my marine tank about 2 weeks ago. Noticed a lot of these bug-like creatures mutiplying rapidly in the tank . I tried to do a search on some copepods and isopods websites but still unsure of this species . Please help me ID this 'bug'. Need to know if these pods are harmless before introducing the livestocks.

Simon

[fishchemist]

Another picture.

[fishchemist]

And another view.

[Marineman]

And another view.

Pods, food for fishes.

[fishchemist]

Pods, food for fishes.

Thanks for your input. Read that some pods are parasites and are harmful. Not sure of this species. Any idea? Seen this in your aquarium?

[Marineman]

Thanks for your input. Read that some pods are parasites and are harmful. Not sure of this species. Any idea? Seen this in your aquarium?

Yes they are in my refugium, they are copepods and indeed some are parasites, because they are so small it is difficult to tell what species they are unless you have a sharp eye.

[junyong84]

shldnt be a worry right? think the fishes would juz take care of them!

[fishchemist]

Yes they are in my refugium, they are copepods and indeed some are parasites, because they are so small it is difficult to tell what species they are unless you have a sharp eye.

The bigger ones are about 2 to 3mm. Just worried that these are parasites that will attack the fish. Read them some will attach themselves onto the fins and gills. Will be introducing LS very soon.

[fishchemist]

shldnt be a worry right? think the fishes would juz take care of them!

Hopefully these are food for the fishes too. Planning to keep Mandrain fish and read that they feed mainly on copepods. Hope these are the copepods that suit them.

[Clownfish]

The bigger ones are about 2 to 3mm. Just worried that these are parasites that will attack the fish. Read them some will attach themselves onto the fins and gills. Will be introducing LS very soon.

there r isopods which r parasites... they r much larger than the copepods that ur picture shows (by the way copepods r gd stuffs)... they look like mini wood lice that will attach themselves to fishes and known to suck blood from them... isopods has a dull dark brown grey color...

do a search on the net a more specific description... btw, u wont see them until ur fish goes into the tank...

[fishchemist]

Thanks Clownfish, I had read from a few websites concerning the various types of pods. The ones I observe in my tanks are unlike the parasitic ones I see online.

However I am unsure of the ones in my tank. I suppose these should not be parasitic as they would not survive without a host(fish) and they are multiplying very rapidly. I think they are herbivorous as there are no other source of food apart from algae.

[Clownfish]

Thanks Clownfish, I had read from a few websites concerning the various types of pods. The ones I observe in my tanks are unlike the parasitic ones I see online.

However I am unsure of the ones in my tank. I suppose these should not be parasitic as they would not survive without a host(fish) and they are multiplying very rapidly. I think they are herbivorous as there are no other source of food apart from algae.

Great!

Happy Reefing