Mites Or Parasites Or Something?

[fryeguy82]

first my tank specs... 29 us gallon tank, 20 lbs of live sand, 20 lbs of live fiji rock, 6 tubo snails, 9 small hermits, 3 emerald crabs and one false percula clown.

i just noticed these tonight. first i saw them all crawling on emerald crabs. and now i see them on the glass and rocks. they are small, white and look like the tiny red mites you see crawling in the grass outside (except they are white). i don't think i'd be able to get a picture because they are so small. they are about the size of the period at the end of this sentence >.< are these some sort of harmful parasite that i should be worried about?

any info you can provide to help?

thanks,
chris

 

[CageUK]

These sound like 'pods' to me... Copepods and isopods. Little insect like creatures that normally bloom in a new/cycling tank with live rock. If the tank is new then eventually they will get eaten. These are to most part harmless. There are one or two pest isopods but these are normally rare in aquariums. If you have space, you could get a bottom feeding goby or blenny which should enjoy the feast!

 

[fryeguy82]

Thanks. The tank is new, about a month old. I had it running for 2 weeks with the live rock and skimmer. Then i added the hermits, snails, and clown. Then a week later i got the emerald crabs.