What is this?

You mean that you've discovered an ANTARCTIC species on your TROPICAL aquarium...
Dude, you should totally as for more than 20 bucks for that!

 

That was my thought. No way it could live in a tropical aquarium if it's from the Antarctic. I would also wonder how the heck it got into your tank because as far as I know, nobody gets live rock or sand from Antarctica anymore

 

Anymore?!

LMAO

 

I was wondering if anybody would catch that

 

I got a order of copepods, amphipods, isopods and slugs from Florida. Maybe the shop got their stuff from somewhere different. Actually when i first looked at it i passed that over. Then I went and looked somemore. It must be the Neastacilla is in the same family as the Caprellinoides. Here is a link to a picture and breif definision of the Neastacilla. Neastacilla image page

Skeleton Louse

Neastacilla sp.

This is one of many species of undescribed skeleton-lice in southern Australia. All use the long hairs on the front legs to filter planktonic food from the water.



Systematics: Isopoda Family Arcturidae



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Distinguishing Characters:
The body is cylindrical, up to 10 mm long, with prominent antennae. The first four pairs of legs are thin and with rows of hairs; the last three pairs are more stubby and attach the animal. The body bends between the elongate fourth body segment and the fifth.

Habitat and Distribution:
This species lives attached to pink coralline algae in subtidal marine environments.

General Biology:
This is one of many species of undescribed skeleton lice in southern Australia. All use the long hairs on the front legs to filter planktonic food from the water. Skeleton louse are often overlooked in their natural surroundings because they resemble the algae in which they live.


Camouflage in Neastacilla sp.
There are many ways an animal can camouflage itself from predators. One of the most effective means is to 'blend in' by adopting the same colouration as your surroundings.

The photograph shows how Neastacilla could easily be mistaken for a piece of colonial bryozoan (or "sea moss"). Both the colour and slender body of the isopod would fool even the hungriest of predators into looking elsewhere for its crustacean meal.

 

God, my refugium broke last night. I have 8 gallons or so of water all over the floor and the wires, luckly nothing fryed out or popped. I woke up at 5:30am because I heard this sizzling sound. I unfortunatly took out the skimmer from my sump, put the calurpa in the sump. Then pulled out the rest of the water, well almost all of it that still in a bucket with the copepods and other creatures in it. I have to do something fast so i dont loose my new found creature.

 

Damn, man...sorry to hear about your crisis and mess...
I hope that you didn't take our levity about the mysterious species wrong. I can tell that you're doing your "homework" and really trying to learn as much as you can about the hobby and the science that brings it all together.
Good luck with your sump and happy holidays!
-e-

 

No, I appreciate it/it helps me learn more about a topic and hobby I like I still thank Marklar M from his post. He is the one that got me looking. Thanks to all, as I know now how to study more on a topic if needed