Uses of Freshwater Amphipods in Aquariums

Mainly at night, tiny shrimp-like crustaceans may arise from their under-gravel homes to explore your aquarium tank. About 90 species of these thin, often transparent, amphipods are found in North America alone, many lacking the shell that is common to other crustaceans. Many of them easily can thrive in your salt or freshwater tank, whether you put them there or they hatched on their own from eggs brought from the fish store.

  1. Food

    • Aquarists often stock their tanks with a small population of amphipods to give their fish a regular, self-sustaining source of live food. In a wild habitat, water insects like amphipods live in the water and under the sand or gravel as quick, healthy snacks for passing fish. You can give your aquarium fish the same kind of nutrition and instinctual exercise. Just make sure the ones you're buying are meant to live in the type of tank you maintain, freshwater or saltwater.

    Waste Cleanup

    • Amphipods eat some of the things you try to eradicate during regular cleanings. Along with some of the nitrate-laden waste from your fish, amphipods also eat phytoplankton and algae that not only mar your glass and stain your water but also seep down into your aquarium's gravel. Amphipods shouldn't replace an adequate filtration system and regular cleanings, but they could help you clean between cleanings.

    Habitat Recreation

    • Live food is not only nutritious for your fish, it's giving your pets a slice of what they'd encounter in the wild. Most amphipods make their way to home tanks through the common use of what is known as "live sand" by saltwater aquarists. This sand also contains some of the bacterial organisms that would make up the fish's natural habitat. This is especially important for those who keep coral in their tanks. Amphipods are less likely to just spring up in freshwater tanks, but it is possible. Either type is available for purchase online.

    Points of Interest

    • Just as natural aquatic plants, rocks and coral can add healthful benefits and aesthetic interest to your aquarium, so can amphipods. Adding new species of fish or reef can get to be expensive, especially for saltwater aquariums. Adding a line of amphipods to either environment is inexpensive, by comparison. As soon as the tank light goes out at night, you should be able to watch with just the room's light as your amphipod army marches out for a meal.