bang guy
Moderator
Harpacticoid copepods are normally found in great numbers in our artificial environments. They are very adaptable in terms of tolerating wide temperature variations, salinity, etc. These tiny bugs make excellent food for fish, corals and many of the filter feeders.
They eat single micro algae such as diatoms and will also scavenge when given the opportunity. This makes them highly nutritious for animals lucky enough to catch them.
They often move in jerky spurts either in a zig-zagged line or even in a circle. The most common grow to a maximum size of 1 or 2 millimeters so you need to be observant to see them.
Here's a picture of them in comparison to last weeks Bug - the Munnid Isopod. It's not up to Ryebread's standards, but it does show the size and general shape. If you look close on a few of them you may notice the "red-eye" from the flash. Note the single eye...
They eat single micro algae such as diatoms and will also scavenge when given the opportunity. This makes them highly nutritious for animals lucky enough to catch them.
They often move in jerky spurts either in a zig-zagged line or even in a circle. The most common grow to a maximum size of 1 or 2 millimeters so you need to be observant to see them.
Here's a picture of them in comparison to last weeks Bug - the Munnid Isopod. It's not up to Ryebread's standards, but it does show the size and general shape. If you look close on a few of them you may notice the "red-eye" from the flash. Note the single eye...
