What creatures are these? Answer: Ostracods

[greenie]

Find hundreds of them in my tank. It can swim but prefer to crawl in between gravel. They are sized about 1mm - 1.5mm.

Anyway to get rid of them. Thought of using dwarf puffer but no idea it will take out these guys.

[|squee|]

They look like planaria.

http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ad.php?t=14641

[budak]

possibly ostracods. Google for more infomation.

[greenie]

I guess budak is right. I've read around and find it mostly impossible to eradicate them.

Here is some excerpts :

"Ostracods (seed shrimp, clam shrimp)

Size - In North America, almost microscopic to 2 mm. Larger species exist.

Coloration - Variable depending on species. White, gray, black, orange, green, and mottled have been seen by the author.

Defining Characteristics - Virtually always kidney bean shaped, though this may be difficult to see in smaller species. Their legs can be retracted into their shells.

Movement - When swimming, their motion is smooth and rapid through the water. They also swim along surfaces searching for food.

Food - Fairly omnivorous. Detritus, fish food, decaying plants and animals, even bacteria and other tiny micro organisms. Also algae, but usually not full sized plants.

Control - Complete eradication is often unsuccessful, except for larger species, which seem more fragile. Regular aquarium maintenance and proper filtration usually keep the populations down to unapparent levels.

Because of their structure, Ostracods are extremely resilient against toxins. By closing the two shells, they can survive extended amounts of time in the presence of medications and pesticides. Even if they die, the shells serve to protect the unborn young until conditions are right again.

Notes - Ostracods are called seed shrimp or clam shrimp, and with good reason. The creatures exist inside opposing shells that look and function just like those of clams. Dead Ostracods are often wrongly identified as clams.

In most species, no males have ever been observed. Reproduction is by parthenogenesis, the production of clonal young. Many species also experience a yearly diapause. The adults die when their habitat dries up, or winter approaches. The young are safely harbored within the body of the parent, and emerge the following spring or rainy season.

Ostracods could only become a problem if they extremely over populate a tank, a condition the author has never seen in a fish aquarium. Only in infusoria jars does this seem to occur.

Because of their hard carapace, Ostracods are usually unappreciated as fish food. Their use as such is not recommended."

Anyway, I believe I got them after getting plants from polyart @clementi.

[benny]

Anyway, I believe I got them after getting plants from polyart @clementi.

Hitchhikers? I not sure if these things survive out of water for long. How did you managed to pinpoint the source of the infestation?

Cheers,

[XnSdVd]

My baby angelfish seem to like the taste of them... You might want to give that a try.

[greenie]

Hitchhikers? I not sure if these things survive out of water for long. How did you managed to pinpoint the source of the infestation?

Cheers,

The tank has been running almost a year. Been adding small clusters of HC every few months from different sources.

The batch from the polyart is the last. From what I gather, they are tough creatures. Anyway bought some pellia, rotala macrandra and bolbitis h together and all into same tank.

Nothing have been introduced since last 3 months. Notice them somewhere a week or two after putting the last batch of plants.

[Justikanz]

Sometimes it is nice to have different creatures living in our tanks. As long as we do not overfeed, their population should not explode. Then you can enjoy viewing different forms of aquatic life, right in your tank!

Anyway, shifting this to invertebrate section.