Quote:
Originally Posted by sks4613
Ampipods and copepods dont burrow or move rocks do they?
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yes, they do.
Quote:
Originally Posted by sks4613
I read the juvenile mantis and Amphipod can appear somewhat similar however the pics up top shows stabers I am almost certain... what do you think?
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By "stabbers," I assume you mean specialized chelipeds, and they are not unique to stomapods (Mantis shrimp). There ae many common copepods and isopods that fit into this blurry photo series, go with what is most likely: I do not think any of these are mantis shrimp for a number of reasons, mostly because I see these common meso-crustaceans in Indonesian rock all the time, and "baby stomapods" are rare:
Corophium acherusicum, harmless to fishes and coral in reef tanks, a non-native to Indonesia transferred there by ship ballast and ship seawater discharge water into harbors when traveling from Europe-- Photo courtesy Museum Victoria-Australia
Ceradocus sillickensis, harmless to fishes and coral in reef tanks, often found in areas under rock or gravel piles or soft, muddy substrate and is conspicuous due to movement and coloration-- Photo courtesy Museum Victoria-Australia
Maera mastersi, harmless to fishes and coral in reef tanks, often found on thick seaweed bunches and in sandy substrates or fine gravel in shllow bays-- Photo courtesy Museum Victoria-Australia
Gammarella berringar, harmless to fishes and coral in reef tanks, often found in sandy sediments near the shore through the continental shelf-- Photo courtesy Museum Victoria-Australia
These VERY common isopods just barely scratch the surface of the HUGE number of different isopods that might fit easily into this blurry photo, have chelapeds that might be mistaken for those of "juvinile mantis shrimp," and are so very common in Pacific tropical-sourced rock. They are harmless to ornamental fishes, and in fact are often food for these fishes. The behavior of these isopods matches what you've described, and they are not unusual under the circumstances, unlike what would be expected for Stomapods, and besidese, why would a shipper send you Stomapods instead of isopods or copepods?
If you work with enough live rock and/or seaweed, you will see thousands of these each month. If you want to see them more, get a red flashlight or cover a normal flashlight lens with red cellophane and watch the front glass of your tank around midnight where the sand meets the glass. These creatures are beneficial for your tank and increase biodiversity as janitors in the benthos: they are nothing for you to worry about.
If it really concerns you, siphon them out, but I feel this will be a waste of both timie and effort. Watch them and see if they grow out to be adult stomapods; even if they do, they are already isolated in your sump from your fishes.
HTH
