Found this tiny shrimp-like critter found in my filter?

[katgermain]

Hello,

I was cleaning my freshwater tank today and noticed this little dude swimming around, pretty sure it was in the filter media. I looked at http://www.planetinverts.com/what_is_th ... arium.html and it doesn't look like any of those.

It is small (2mm or 2.5 mm) appears to have a bunch of legs on its underside and sometimes tucks its tail in and swims a bit but it mostly just walks around on the bottom.

I haven't added anything new to my tank in a good 2-3 months or so. And it's very cold winter here, so it's not like it came in from outside!

The picture isn't great. It was the best i could get without a microscopic camera, but perhaps if someone already is familiar they'd be able to recognize it.

Can i put it back into the tank or is its newly discovered life short-lived?

Thanks in advance,

Kat

[.Plecomania.]

research amphipod, that should shed some light on your mystery
and yes you can put him back into the tank he is harmless.

[katgermain]

I saw some of them, but they didn't look like mine... that said, i don't have a microscope, so I'll take your word for it! Thanks!

[jvision]

Looks like a scud or Gammarus shrimp. Sometimes they're frozen in packs of bloodworms. There are a few little critters that can survive freezing that show up with commercial frozen foods.

[dw1305]

Hi all,
If it is flat from side to side it is probably a "Scud" (Gammarus) or similar Hyalella etc, if it is flat top to bottom, it will be Asellus.

I have a lot of Asellus in some of my filters, and in all the tanks. They are very similar to Cherry Shrimps in food requirements and are totally fish safe.

cheers Darrel

[katgermain]

Thanks for your replies!

Funny - i had a tiny sense that maybe it could have come with the blood worms which would have been the only "new" thing that I added to the tank recently.

Appreciate the replies!

Kat