Unknown Creature In Tank

Dear all

Firstly I would like to say hello to everyone and introduce myself.

I have only recently become interested in keeping Aquaria. Currently I have two 60 litre tanks and a 30 litre cold-water tank. The cold water tank has fancy goldfish and the inhabitants seem to be very happy (and greedy ). The 60 litre tanks are both tropical, the first one has a population of Kuhli Loach's and lots of baby guppies. The other has some lung fish, black mollies and some Platy's.

Today, while looking into the tank with the Kuhli's and baby guppies I noticed a strange crustacean type creature sitting on some bog-wood very near to a cave used by the Kuhli's. I have absolutely no idea what it is or where it came from. Does anybody here have any idea?

It is a little difficult to see in this image as the Crustacean was very small. Please look at the Kuhli's eyes and then immediately left. You should see a horrible looking thing. After taking the photo it ran into the cave. (Suspect the flash disturbed it). Personally, I suspect this is, like snails, a "free" animal which was hitch-hiking on a plant. I would love to know what it is and if it is dangerous to my community.

Many Thanks for reading.

Regards
Nikki

Hi there and welcome to the forum!

At first glance, that does look like something from the film Aliens!





I think you may have a water louse. They are harmless crustaceans that measure about 20mm.



Does it look anything like this? One of the more experienced members will surely be along to determine what the creature is, but for the moment, just my 2p.

Have you got shrimps ,as it`s see through ,it looks like a shrimps shed it`s skin?

Could be a ghost shrimp...maybe?

Don't think it is just the skin shed off a shrimp as it wouldn't have been able to run away LOL

Athena

Athena said:

Could be a ghost shrimp...maybe?

Don't think it is just the skin shed off a shrimp as it wouldn't have been able to run away LOL

Athena

Click to expand...

Valid point!

Can you count the legs? And how many sections it has on its back.

My vote is for the water louse. It's not a ghost shrimp.

Water louse.
What you can see in the picture is the rear end - 3 sets of longer legs & a primitive tail structure. It is unlikely to be of any danger to your fish, It probably was introduced as a larvae on a piece of bogwood or even a plant.

just think of it as a type of aquatic woodlice.

Looks NASTY!

LOL alien. I keep looking at the pic and getting itchy,
i'm just about to switch to live plants too - i hope i dont get anything wierd looking lol

that is a bit scary!

Yep thats definately the water hoglouse (Asellus aquaticus) I have a few in one of my tanks.

Brilliant as part of the clean up crew, and totally harmless.

nurglespuss said:

Yep thats definately the water hoglouse (Asellus aquaticus) I have a few in one of my tanks.

Brilliant as part of the clean up crew, and totally harmless.

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Looks disgusting though. Urgh.

How would you go about getting rid of these?

I don't like it

Awww I think they're ugly-cute!

to get rid of them just fish them out, they don't breed like crazy, so there won't be many.