Copepod on my java ferns

[amazontank]

Hi friends hope everyone is well.
These copepods survived quarantine & now there in my pleco breeding tank. Should I be worried?
Do they eat pleco eggs & are they dangerous or more like snails that clean the tank?
Thanks for any help!

 

[tlindsey]

Hi friends hope everyone is well.
These copepods survived quarantine & now there in my pleco breeding tank. Should I be worried?
Do they eat pleco eggs & are they dangerous or more like snails that clean the tank?
Thanks for any help!

View attachment 1542793

Those are scuds. They are no harmful and good for the aquarium eats detritus.

 

[tlindsey]

Some say they will eat eggs and some say no are they are more like snails that clean the tank?

Like I stated earlier scuds will eat detritus and stir up substrate.

 

[tlindsey]

I did notice a female copepod after looking at the magnified water drops. So you have both in the aquarium. Probably came off your plants when you purchased them.

 

[Deadeye]

I’ll second that the large guys are amphipods - great to have in tanks.
I’ve found that they are one of the only things to eat black bears algae, but the fish tend to eat them first.

 

[amazontank]

Thanks so much made my day!
I was sweating! Got a couple dozen java ferns on mats & spent a day quarantined. Added to tank & week later I'm seeing these guys.
All I have in the tank are L306 colony don't think plecos eat these copepod but so happy to hear they are like snails.