Need ID on bugs in my shrimp tank

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Pyramid_Party

Pyramid_Party

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Aug 6, 2008
4,916
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68
Monterey, CA
Hi,


Ive noticed 3 types of bugs in my shrimp tank. Pics are about impossible to get since they are hard to see even in person. I'll try and describe them best I can.


Bug #1 - This one looks like a tiny white dot with a small tail on it. Theres quite a few in the tank and they move and dart around on the glass. I think they may be copepods but I am not sure.


Bug #2 - This one is a small white worm. At the moment there are a few of them and they are pretty small. They sometimes dont move and sometimes you can see them moving on the glass at about a snails pace.


Bug #3 - This one is s snail. Ive noticed 2 of them and they are very small. I guess I'd like to know what type of snail they are. Liek I say, they are small at this time and they are a light brown in color.



Basically, I have no problem with these bugs, I think they are kinda cool. The only thing I am concerned about is if they are harmful to my shrimp. If they are harmless, then I dont mind them in the tank. Also, do you know if my shrimp will eat these worms and those other little bugs? I got cherry shrimp.

Thanks
 
1) Copepods.

2) Planaria.

3) Will need pictures. The snails that most commonly just 'show up' are pond snails (Physidae) and true ramshorns (Planorbidae).

None of these will harm your shrimp, and your shrimp may feed on them from time to time. If the 'bug' population grows very large it is usually a sign that you are overfeeding/underfiltering.
 
Its hard to tell what type of snail because they are small right now. The worms I dont think are planaria. They are thin and white. I think planaria are generally colored. I actually dont see the worms today. They may have went to the substrate.
 
Noto;2603790; said:
1) Copepods.

2) Planaria.

3) Will need pictures. The snails that most commonly just 'show up' are pond snails (Physidae) and true ramshorns (Planorbidae).

None of these will harm your shrimp, and your shrimp may feed on them from time to time. If the 'bug' population grows very large it is usually a sign that you are overfeeding/underfiltering.
Click to expand...


yep.... less feeding.. more cleaning and the first 2 will go away... the last... just have to pick them out... or let them grow..
 
I do clean good, and I hardly feed. I think they exist naturally. Since the shrimp dont prey on them they can exist. In larger tanks they arent really noticed and with some fish eat them.

Because Ive enver noticed these things in other tanks, so since its a shrimp tank, they are able to live.


Theres not a huge amount of them. I dont even see the worms anymore. The snails must of came from the moss.
 
Copepods and Planaria...they are good for your tank. They provide prey for your shrimp (depending on what shrimp) and are interesting and are good members of the cleanup crew.
 
1. Copepods.

2. Detritus worms.

3. Pond snails, Malaysian trumpet or ramshorns.
 
Detritus worms are annelids. They won't harm anyone. Just plain scavengers that work on leftover foods hence the name.
 
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