Calanoid?

[lloydchristmas]

Hi guys

These pods have been increasing in numbers in my tank, the adults are about 1mm long. They swim in swarms when I turn the pump off.
I am guessing they are a type of calanoid but don't have a microscope, these are the best photos I could get with my mobile.
They have hitchhiked in and seem to be doing well, I haven't bred any fish before but I was thinking the nauplii of these might
be good first food.

Any thoughts on what these are?

[Luis A M]

They probably are harpacticoids.Dont expect calanoids or cyclopoids to show or thrive in your displays.
See viewtopic.php?f=144&t=508
And be welcome!

[lloydchristmas]

Ok thanks Luis, yeah I had already read that one but the long antennae and swimming had me wondering.

I read this other thread http://www.marinebreeder.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2846
the descriptions sound exactly same behaviour as the ones in my tank, so pretty much useless as first food if they only pelagic as adults.
Its seems strange they are increasing if they are mostly benthic, because there's 2 dragonet's in this tank spending all day scouring the live rock, this tank isn't that big.

[Suzy]

Wow! Those pics came from your mobile phone?

[Luis A M]

I also noticed the long antennae,you might have indeed that same species,also found by Jim W.
It is an exceptional benthic calanoid,which for practical purposes is the same as a harp.

[lloydchristmas]

Yes the photos did come from my phone, with the lens from an old dvd player taped into position over the camera, not to bad for free.

[Suzy]

They are great shots!

[lloydchristmas]

I tried to isolate these into coke bottles about 4 weeks ago, they used to hang around the bottom in groups.
They disappeared over a week ago, I had a look today and they are back, swimming much more vertically using the whole bottle and don't seem to hide from the light, there are also small pink tube shaped creatures, at a guess 400micron long 100wide, and also small round white ones 150 microns some clinging to the bottle and some swimming.

They are a bit beyond a mobile phone photo this time, do they sound useful?

[lloydchristmas]

I have these growing from a wild collection.
Single egg sac is calanoid? Adults are .8mm. Seems like alot of eggs

[Luis A M]

Calanoids could have two,one or none egg sacs.But it could help in the ID.I don´t remember if the pod found by Matt P.and Jim W.had one or two...

[lloydchristmas]

Thanks luis, I collected these from the beach, almost all the adults have eggs. The ones at the start of the thread from my tank never seemed to be carrying any.

I would like to try and get a photo of the nauplii, there are lots of tiny creatures moving quick, should I add vodka to stop them moving?

[Luis A M]

You can put them in the fridge for a while.Ethanol or MS 222 is tricky to use.
Are they or the naups pelagic?.

[lloydchristmas]

I have not been able to get a shot of the naups, probably because of the cheapo usb microscope. I used vodka, it stoped them moving but not enough magnification or control over the focus

I have got photos of a juvenile 250 micron long, and adults, they swim but when disturbed swim to the sides of the bottle and cling.

[Luis A M]

You can put them in the fridge for a while.Ethanol or MS 222 is tricky to use.
Are they or the naups pelagic?.

Meaning if you want to save them...If not,vodka is fine.
Calanoid and Cyclop.naups look the same,compare with posted pics.
But Harp.naups are very different.

[lloydchristmas]

got a photo of the naups and something else, ciliates?

these naups where on the side of the coke bottle, so that's not pelagic then?

[Luis A M]

Can´t tell from these pic,but look like Harp.naups.

[lloydchristmas]

I think you are right Luis, do they look like Tisbe biminiensis? same size the adults an naups swim some of the time. Maybe the wild collection was usefull, will try them as first food for my dragonets tomorrow,

[Luis A M]

Most of the benthic harps have benthic naups resembling little roaches

[Jake Levi]

Your dragonets should love them, harps tend to be more benthic then calanoids, but in an aquarium it might not be so obvious.

All are good reef fish food.