Hitchhiker or did my cleaner shrimp have babies?

toxicdave45

New Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 24, 2022
Messages
24
Reaction score
38
Location
Auburn
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I found this little guy when I was shining my light on the tank. I have 2 cleaner shrimp which makes me wonder if this is an offspring? The rock he’s on just so happens to be live rock I bought at Petco which makes me wonder if it’s a hitchhiker. What are your thoughts on what it is?
 

Attachments

  • ED359F94-72BB-4C9D-BEBC-381CE9331C44.mov
    9.9 MB

TinyReefObsession

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 14, 2023
Messages
242
Reaction score
319
Location
CA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Unfortunately recordings can be finicky on here. Any chance you can upload a photo?
 

DaJMasta

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 3, 2022
Messages
973
Reaction score
1,266
Location
Maryland
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I haven't actually been able to load the video yet, but if you're seeing something crawling on rocks, it's not cleaner shrimp - they would be free swimming in the water column (and swim towards the light in a still tank) and take weeks of development time before they can walk around on rocks like an adult.

If they're on the rocks and they're in the 1cm or smaller ballpark, it's probably amphipods or similar.
 
OP
OP
toxicdave45

toxicdave45

New Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 24, 2022
Messages
24
Reaction score
38
Location
Auburn
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I haven't actually been able to load the video yet, but if you're seeing something crawling on rocks, it's not cleaner shrimp - they would be free swimming in the water column (and swim towards the light in a still tank) and take weeks of development time before they can walk around on rocks like an adult.

If they're on the rocks and they're in the 1cm or smaller ballpark, it's probably amphipods or similar.
Here are pictures
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0092.png
    IMG_0092.png
    905.7 KB · Views: 69
  • IMG_0090.jpeg
    IMG_0090.jpeg
    247.9 KB · Views: 68

Tavero

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Aug 5, 2022
Messages
711
Reaction score
686
Location
Somewhere
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I found this little guy when I was shining my light on the tank. I have 2 cleaner shrimp which makes me wonder if this is an offspring? The rock he’s on just so happens to be live rock I bought at Petco which makes me wonder if it’s a hitchhiker. What are your thoughts on what it is?
Gammarus amphipod. Usually harmless cleaning crew and potential fish food, but if their breeding is uncontested by fish or shrimp they can turn into a pest that eats coral.
I personally hate them an used palaemon elegans shrimps to eradicate them.
 

Seansea

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 20, 2022
Messages
1,323
Reaction score
1,153
Location
Flat Rock
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Just an amphipod. Big one. Fish food. I had tons whe. My tank first started but wrasses make quick work of them.
 

BillB83

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 4, 2023
Messages
157
Reaction score
46
Location
USA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
i used to have all sorts of critters like this in my one LPS tank until i put a six line and 2 springer damsels in it and they have eaten everything
 

TOP 10 Trending Threads

WHICH OF THESE CREEPY REEF CRITTERS IS MOST LIKELY TO GIVE YOU NIGHTMARES? (PICTURED IN THE THREAD)

  • The Bobbit Worm

    Votes: 47 67.1%
  • The Goblin Shark

    Votes: 4 5.7%
  • The Sea Wolf

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Giant Spider Crabs

    Votes: 1 1.4%
  • The Stargazer Fish

    Votes: 5 7.1%
  • The Giant Isopod

    Votes: 8 11.4%
  • The Giant Squid

    Votes: 1 1.4%
  • Other (Please explain!)

    Votes: 4 5.7%
Back
Top