Another Aquarium Something

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FLReef32043
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Another Aquarium Something

#1 Post by FLReef32043 » Thu Mar 21, 2019 12:16 am

Found another curiosity in my aquarium (at least to me). Looks similar to a beetle in shape - flat on the bottom, humped on top. Estimated to be about .5 mm in size (estimated with calibrated graticule).

First 1/3 is transparent the back 2/3 is opaque but does not seem to be solid (internal organs?). Constantly "walking" through some wood scrapings and won't stand still. Doesn't seem to be feeding, just constant moving.

From what I can count/tell appears to have 4 pair of legs. Front first pair is more of a grasping pair supplemented by second pair. The other legs are hard to discern and appear to be smaller than the front legs. The final pair seem very small and have "hooks" on the end.

I've seen a couple/three of them but they are not in the same samples - they seem "spread" out in that I have only ever seen one in a drop of water no matter where I take them from in the source container.
031819 beetle_upload.png
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wstenberg
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Re: Another Aquarium Something

#2 Post by wstenberg » Thu Mar 21, 2019 1:49 am

Hmm,
Is this freshwater or marine?
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75RR
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Re: Another Aquarium Something

#3 Post by 75RR » Thu Mar 21, 2019 6:40 am

Looks like a dust mite. Perhaps a contaminated slide or pipette?
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Re: Another Aquarium Something

#4 Post by janvangastel » Thu Mar 21, 2019 7:10 am

If it's the same as this one: I also find it in my fish tank.Not in the water, but on a very wet glass bridge with algae, just above the water level. Don't know what is is though.
P1060444_small.jpg
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FLReef32043
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Re: Another Aquarium Something

#5 Post by FLReef32043 » Thu Mar 21, 2019 12:44 pm

wstenberg wrote:Hmm,
Is this freshwater or marine?

Freshwater

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Re: Another Aquarium Something

#6 Post by FLReef32043 » Thu Mar 21, 2019 12:46 pm

75RR wrote:Looks like a dust mite. Perhaps a contaminated slide or pipette?
I guess it is possible, but if it is - it is living underwater - at least enough that it doesn't seem to be in distress or "drowning" as it sits in the drop of water I am watching for an hour or so - off an on.

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Re: Another Aquarium Something

#7 Post by FLReef32043 » Thu Mar 21, 2019 12:48 pm

janvangastel wrote:If it's the same as this one: I also find it in my fish tank.Not in the water, but on a very wet glass bridge with algae, just above the water level. Don't know what is is though.

P1060444_small.jpg
Very similar. The "back" 2/3 of mine has that opaqueness that seems to be internal organs or some type of coloring (food?). The front 1/3 is nearly transparent as are the legs. The image you have they seem to be opaque.

The segmentation of the legs and the "hooks" at the end of them are very similar. As are the hairs on the posterior portion of the upper body.

This very well could be what I am seeing.

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actinophrys
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Re: Another Aquarium Something

#8 Post by actinophrys » Thu Mar 21, 2019 2:23 pm

These are definitely mites, though presumably not dust mites in particular. Identification of different types is not as easy; you could for instance compare this key. In any case mites are not unusual in aquarium samples, especially around plants or algae, which provide both shelter and food.

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