What is this?! Previously unseen bug in tank.

[MarcW]

Hi Everyone,

I just found several of these seemingly living in and eating the algae on the front glass of one of my tanks, it gets direct sunlight for a few hours a day, so there is a fair bit of algae on the glass, they are about 2mm long. There are also hydra in that tank, although none of my other tanks have either of these critters.

Any idea what this is?

[dw1305]

Hi all,
It is an "Ostracod", a "Seed Shrimp", basically a Daphnia like Crustacean, but encased in a "shell". Some fish will eat them, but a lot don't. They are entirely harmless and pretty much universal in water.

Many species have persistent eggs and/or resting stages so can re-appear in persistent puddles etc. as soon as they re-wet.

cheers Darrel

[MarcW]

Thanks Darrel. Good to know they are harmless, I'll leave them to it!