GelfKNow what these are?

[tony]

Hey all,
I think these may be seed shrimp, but not sure.
http://www.discusforums.com/forum/files/unknown-on-finger.jpg
http://www.discusforums.com/forum/files/unknown-1.jpg
Sorry about the image quality, it's the best i could get without a macro lense.
Any ideas?
Cheers
Tony

[tony]

I've taken a couple of photos through a hand lense, maybe that will help (though the quality ain't good, you can see the legs).
There is definitely a clam like shell surrounding the legs, though I could not catch that on the photos.
They are hard to the touch, and freely swim about the tank when I disturb them.
http://www.discusforums.com/forum/files/img_0086.jpg
http://www.discusforums.com/forum/files/img_0085.jpg
http://www.discusforums.com/forum/files/img_0084.jpg
Cheers
Tony

[jennifer]

Cool. I don't know what they are, but if you have newts I think they might be good food for them!

[greg]

Looks like a clam shrimp. I'll circulate the photo past the invertebrate zoologist at work and see what he says.

[greg]

Tony,

The Invert Zoology dude here at the museum says "ostracod" for sure, but wants to know locality information before going further.

greg

[roy]

It surely is an ostracod (seedshrimp) but further identification will be quite difficult.
I don't think your newts will mind the exact species

[iturnrocks]

Here is as good a pics as I can get of an Ostracod with this point and shoot.
http://www.iturnrocks.com/images/inverts/aquatic/ostracod/ostracod1.jpg
http://www.iturnrocks.com/images/inverts/aquatic/ostracod/ostracod2.jpg
http://www.iturnrocks.com/images/inverts/aquatic/ostracod/ostracod3.jpg

Here is what a clam shrimp looks like. They get much larger than seed shrimp.
http://www.ksvp.org/images/800/clam1.jpg

If you want to see a clam shrimp in motion- here is a closeup of a 3 day old clam shrimp at 60x
http://www.iturnrocks.com/images/inverts/aquatic/clamshrimp/clamday4.gif

I have seen large numbers of Ostracods attack, kill, and consume fairy shrimp. They are like little piranhas.