Radio-Active Pods

I have some Amphipods in my DT that are getting to be close to a quarter of an inch. Is that good, or should I get something to keep some of the bigger guys down.....

 

IMO its good
they are useful members of the CUC clearing up in tiny gaps, cracks etc that other species could not get to

IME the larger they get , the more secretive they seem to be for me
I see plenty of 1cm ish casts drifting about and being grabbed and discarded by fish that thought the small shrimp was still in there
but I very rarely see the live ones that large ( unless I am removing rock, etc and the odd one falls into the bucket)

Steve

 

only thing bad I have ever heard is that they can be agitators to zoa polyps

 

I have the same, some of them seem massive but I think it's a good problem to have. They do trample my zoas now and again but aside of irritating them while they are on top they don't cause any issues and they get on the food leftovers in the tank. I don't have anything that would be a predator to them so they aren't as shy as usual.

 

Some species will actually eat zoas and palys.

 

Thanks for all the info. I was thinking the same thing about them being good cleaners for the cracks, but as they get bigger, they no longer hide on the crevices, I actually saw one of the things come out and start munching on a pellet that a hermit had taken claim on. It had no fear, just pulled up a bar stool with my crab and started eating off his plate. After seeing that I got to wonder if they can get Too big and may need a predator. But all and all, I have not witnessed one doing any damage to anything.

As for the certain species, I'm not sure on the exact name of mine, but it looks like a half moon, millipede/ shrimp type looking thing with two larger front arms which it grabs food with.

 

Might be time for a Mandarin?

 

I was thinking just that, I know at some point in a tanks life, one species of Pod will out compete all the others, and then it's time to get a refill to replenish the types, I just don't know how long that usually takes. If the amphipods I have are eating the copods, then the co's don't stand a chance. Although the amph's are meatier and consume more waste, so they might be the ideal choice to have for a Mandarin.....decisions, decisions, decisions....lol