Can anyone help me to identify these creatures? Copepods?

[Vilema]

Hi!

My tanks is 60L and about 2 months old, cycled etc. Few cherry shrimps and no fish. Couple of weeks ago I noticed first ones. Now they are all over the place. There are literally thousands of them. What to do, what to do? Thanks!

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

There are literally thousands of them. What to do, what to do? Thanks!

They are <"Seed Shrimps (Ostracoda)">, basically Daphnia in a shell.

They are <"entirely harmless">.

cheers Darrel

 

[jaypeecee]

They are <"entirely harmless">.

Hi @dw1305

And presumably a tasty morsel for suitable predators? Loaches, perhaps?

JPC

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

And presumably a tasty morsel for suitable predators?

Some fish eat them, some aren't so keen (presumably because of the "shell"). Dwarf Cichlids definitely eat them.

cheers Darrel

 

[shangman]

I get these in my rainwater and they get eaten pretty quickly, my kuhli loaches, sparkling gourami and apistos eat them.

 

[Vilema]

Thank you very much! I got follow up question. I was thinking about to add school fish. Maybe some ember tetras, but I think those won't eat them? Cichilds are too big for that 60L and maybe apistos also. Any suggestions?