I have termites in my tank, hmmmm

hooked · 02-16-2002, 09:16 AM

Hello all,

I was looking at my tank today with a flashlight, tank lights are off. Mostly looking for my emerald crab and camel shrimp I just got. I noticed on my live rock to the best of my explanation a sack like tunnel on the outside of the rock. I shined my light into it and to my disbelief something moved, I took a double check that's for sure. It looks like termites, anybody have any idea what that is and do I need to remove?

Tanks

Jim

Spanky · 02-16-2002, 09:23 AM

Jim,

check this out > http://64.119.165.43/forum/showthrea...&threadid=6902

Jerel

gregt · 02-16-2002, 09:25 AM

You are looking at the "Live" part of live rock or live sand. Probably a copepod or isopod. These are benefical creatures that are facinating to watch.

Alice · 02-16-2002, 12:57 PM

Was the creature very small or more like the thickness of a pencil eraser? Was it dark reddish brown and shiny? If so, I find these in holes in live rock quite often but I have no idea what they are; they seem to either bore through the rock themselves or use tunnels from previous borers. Next time I run across one at the shop I'll try to get a pic; I always forget about trying to ID the things until I see them again

Alice

FishDaddy · 02-16-2002, 01:21 PM

I think some of the critters in my reef are armed!!!

I once found new holes that were perfectly round and just about the size of a .22 bullet!
Dick

hooked · 02-17-2002, 02:19 PM

Hello Alice,

They actually look like white ants, they are just about the same size and maybe just a little smaller.

Spanky,

Thanks for the link, hard to tell if they look like that.

Gregt,

I thought the term live rock was for the bacteria and stuff growing on it, thanks for the class

Fishdaddy,

Be carefull on your next cleaning, a .22 could take a finger off. LOL

Thanks all
Jim

gregt · 02-17-2002, 03:49 PM

hooked,

Actually, you are correct. The bacteria is a very important part of the "live" component.