Small clear shrimp like creature on my GSP

[Wankel]

So I was staring at my GSP today and I noticed these 2 little moving antennae at the top, after staring for a little longer, sure enough it was a tiny little opaque shrimp running around on my GSP. What the heck is it? and should I be concerned?

I was going to snap a pic but he disappeared, it almost resembles a baby version of my scarlet cleaner, is that possible?

 

[trippinsting]

no need to worry.. probably pods..

 

[Wankel]

It wasnt super small though, it was like the size of a tictac.

 

[gr1mm]

Sounds like amphipods.

 

[Wankel]

So it would be good eats for some fish when I put em in eh? I just got my water tested, everything is good except my ammonia is slightly up at .25, just did a water change and added half a bottle of Bio-Spira.

Hopefully I can add some fish by next week, its been up and running for about 6 weeks now, and I have been feeding PE mysis and Oyster Feast, i'm wondering if the uneaten mysis is contributing to the ammonia since I don't have a cleanup crew.

 

[thedevilscandy]

Definitely amphipods. I had them all over my little tank. I've been told not as many fish eat them verses copepods, but they make a great little clean up crew lol. Mine were always out snagging the extra pellets that fell to the bottom

 

[Kbra]

Yup sounds like pods

 

[BeanMachine]

When ur ammonia goes to zero, then your nitrite spikes then goes zero, then your nitrate and thats when u know your cycled and can add a fish.

I agree that is a pod, or mysid I think that's what they're called. Good for your tank no worries. Definitely fish food.

 

[Demonkegman]

yeah I have a lot of pods that get HUGE! I have some that are the size of my thumb nail.

 

[Wankel]

Question, when the scarlet cleaner shrimp molts, do you pull the exo out? or leave it in?

I have pulled 2 out so far, and the last one I left in, would that spike the ammonia?

 

[BeanMachine]

I don't think so. I've never removed them myself. Your tank bein new its going to take time for the bacteria to populate and process the ammonia. The biospira will help speed that up.

 

[Wankel]

Managed to snap a photo of him after I moved the rock/GSP he was hiding in!

 

[MikeGilliland]

Pod...big one.

 

[Wankel]

Haha, he must be eating well, I hope he finds the GSP rock again, I was going to put it in the sand out front but decided against it and its back where it was.

 

[Calreef18]

Shell of the shrimp shouldn't be an issue, made of chitin. Have left shells in my nano with no ill effects.