what are these critters?

[Kristen9]

My tank has been set up for about 6 months, and the other day I turned on my light late at night while talking to someone about my corals. To my surprise, these little white/clear guys with 6 or so legs scampered under the larger rocks. I've never seen them before. I'll try to get a picture, but it might be difficult. they are basically clear, you can see their guts/rib cage, have approximately 6 legs, are pretty fast, and have black eyes. Most are just 2 cm big, but one was like 5 cm big and appeared more white. They don

[Jan]

Amphipods - a sign of a well established system. Enjoy the free cleaners and food.

http://www.google.com/images?q=amphipods&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=_0BjTJrCM4K8lQfZ0dGDAw&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CDgQsAQwAA

[BowieReefer84]

wow that's good to have them in 6 months. nice.

[zygote2k]

Isopods...

[ctenophore]

I've never seen a 5cm amphipod. Did you mean 5mm or are these things really almost 2 inches long?

[Kristen9]

I've never seen a 5cm amphipod. Did you mean 5mm or are these things really almost 2 inches long?

 

 

fantastic!! thanks so much for the replies!! :D

 

and I did mean mm, oops!

[Coral Hind]

I also don't know where they came from.

 

any thoughts???

 

Thanks

 

They probably came in on your live rock or the bases of your corals.