Marine Stick Insect?

[leheath]

I just received a "portion o' pods" from floridapets.com and in it there are a number of critters that look somewhat like very small stick insects and move like inchworms. The are 1/4 to 3/4" in size and almost translucent. I can't get a good pic 'cause they are in my fuge and are too small....

Anyone have any idea what they are?

Thanks

[greenbean36191]

Could it be a skeleton shrimp? A google search should bring up some pictures.

[mattseattle]

that is exactly what they are....good job!

i received 3 orders of pods from them last week and noticed a few in my bag as well. i had never seen them before. they are super cool to watch as they move. i haven't seen any for a few days. i'm sure they are buried in my chaeto somewhere.

i'm assuming they are not dangerous!

[leheath]

Thanks! I just did a search, and yes, they are skeleton shrimp! Very cool! Apparantly, they can be carnivores, herbivores, or detritivores and, according to Dr. Ron, they don't usually survive in aquariums. He thinks they either starve or get eaten...since mine are in my fuge, maybe they will survive...

They are definitely the most unusual thing I have seen in my tank!

[mattseattle]

i definitely agree with that..... the way they walk/crawl/swim was amazing.

[Jpizzle]

maybe it's not good idea to put em in the fuge because they might decimate the life down there? iono just a guess

[mattseattle]

i doubt it....

[leheath]

Actually, I think Jpizzle may be right! I was using a flashlight to watch them after the lights were out over the fuge and they were going crazy hunting and catching/eating pods! So, I have transfered them out of the fuge into the display tank - I did feel since my fuge is only 5g, they could decimate the pod population pretty quickly and that would sorta defeat the purpose of the fuge!