What is this lice kind of creature found in sponge filter of my tank

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professorjimjam

Dovii
MFK Member
May 26, 2021
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Hello

I was cleaning my sponge filter and found this type of creatures in the filter . Never heard or seen anything like this before. Please see video I recorded. I held it in my hand and it plays dead and when I poke it with my finger it moves.

Please share your experience what is this? Even chat gpt could not identify this.

Is this dangerous to my tank fishes?

Some times ago my Malaysian trumpet snails apexes were getting erosions , could this creature be causing that I mean eating my snails?

Please help!

 
It's a scud (Gammarus), a small freshwater shrimp-like crustacean. Harmless, common scvenger, nothing to worry about. Unlike many other uninvited guest like Hydras, detritus worms, etc. it's not a sign of poor upkeep or substandard water conditions or any negative concerns. Back away from the Panic button and close the safety latch over top of it. :)
 
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Howdy

It looks like Hyalella azteca to me. I have them in all my tanks, they are great for biodiversity and a snack for fish. They clean up what your fish and the trumpets snails don't eat. And erosion on snail shells is probably due to low pH and soft water, what is your water chemistry?
 
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HarleyK said:
Howdy

It looks like Hyalella azteca to me. I have them in all my tanks, they are great for biodiversity and a snack for fish. They clean up what your fish and the trumpets snails don't eat. And erosion on snail shells is probably due to low pH and soft water, what is your water chemistry?
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Many thanks.
The erosion of snails I had before which was solved with water change and removal of a large wood in the tank. The wood was causing the water to become soft as soon as I removed it the ph went back to normal and snails erosion stopped, but when I found this new creature, then it kind of hit me that perhaps this creature could have been the one eating my snails.
Now , I know it was the soft water .

So what do I do with these Hyalella azteca? Just leave them? There are many of them why my plecos and snails are not eating them?
Can they populate out of control?
 
Their population is usually self limiting. If they overpopulate, they will die off until reaching carrying capacity.
Snails and plecos wouldn’t eat them but I’m sure guppies would. If you still have the puffers I’m sure they would too (as well as being a source for snail shell damage).
 
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