What type of copepod?

[N1Husker]

I have these little fish looking things swimming around the skimmer and refugium section of my sump. They look like tiny little fish, although they somewhat resemble a type of copepod. They swim like a fish, articulating their body back and forth like a fish, but I am pretty sure they aren't a fish. I use a filter sock so I know they can't be from the tank. They are too small and quick to get a picture of. The body is round on the front half with a tail that goes back and forth. Any ideas?

 

[spieszak]

you'd probably know mysid if you saw them, right?

 

[NanaReefer]

Hard to say without knowing what all you have live stock wise.


Sent from my iPhone 4s via Tapatalk.

 

[rayjay]

I too would bet on mysids. They look like baby shrimp.

 

[N1Husker]

They are not mysid's.

 

[spieszak]

figured you'd know, but it was the first thing that came to mind...

 

[spieszak]

i know how tough it can be to get pics of the tiny stuff..
if you scroll through this
http://www.google.com/search?client...1c.1.35.mobile-gws-serp..9.7.2261.6IZKtKEqtYw

is there anything that jumps out as similar to help with the description?

 

[N1Husker]

Kinda looks like a Maxilipoda copepod. I went to images on Google and unfortunately there are pictures that kind of looks like it but the images don't tell you what kind your looking at. The maxillipoda is as close as I see.The one website I was on said there are 2600 different types of copepods. The mystery goes on. Thanks spieszak for the link.

 

[spieszak]

once you have one it kind of looks like, you can do an image search where you upload the image(through google) using the image it most looks like. it will find like images, and usually one of them will have the info.

http://www.google.com/insidesearch/features/images/searchbyimage.html

 

[BARRON]

How big are they? If I remember right eunicids worms turn all weird looking when they are breading and swim funny.

 

[N1Husker]

They are from 1/16th to 1/8th of an inch long and they look like a really small tadpole shape. They swim like a fish.

 

[BARRON]

To small to be eunicid, could be an epitoke of something smaller.

 

[N1Husker]

They don't look anything like a worm, I am pretty sure it is some type of copepod. The body is round and there is a tail.

 

[BARRON]

I would check on here http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchpods.html

 

[N1Husker]

I would check on here http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchpods.html

It's the Cyclopoida without eggs. Thanks Barron, that's the one they look like.

 

[DTECH07]

Can you get a picture or video?

 

[BARRON]

thats my goto site for any hitchhiker id

 

[N1Husker]

Can you get a picture or video?

I think Ihey are Cyclopoida copapods. They are too small for a picture, I tried with my camera, it isn't good enough and I don't have the means for a video.