Bug in my filters

[Karon rayner]

I'm cleaning out my filters in my garden pond and found hundreds of strange bugs!horrid not sure how to upload a picture

 

[Karon rayner]

What is this bug on my pond filter please.

 

[Mucky_Waters]

What is this bug on my pond filter please.

Looks like some type of Amphipods. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphipoda
Perfectly harmless, even beneficial for your pond and a great natural and nutritious treat for your fish.

 

[RobAmy]

Agreed they is harmless, my filters will have living things on them too. Nature just being nature.

 

[USMC Ponder]

If it was a saltwater tank I would agree, amphipods. I have thousands in my reef tank. beneficial crustacean. Plus a food source for other critters.

 

[Mucky_Waters]

If it was a saltwater tank I would agree, amphipods. I have thousands in my reef tank. beneficial crustacean. Plus a food source for other critters.

What if it's a freshwater pond, would you still agree?

 

[USMC Ponder]

based on appearance, yes. Look exactly like the ones in my saltwater tank. I guess I worded that wrong

 

[Mmathis]

Scuds (what the others said, I just use their common name). Not only are they harmless, they are actually beneficial to the pond’s ecosystem. They are scavengers and help “clean” the pond.

 

[Mmathis]

Duplicate post — question was answered here https://www.gardenpondforum.com/threads/what-is-this-bug-on-my-pond-filter.22907/

 

[GBBUDD]

Mole crickets?

 

[GBBUDD]

Take a picture with your phone.
Open GPF with your phone
Click on upload a file at the bottom of the post
Scroll through your folders with in the phone probably find it under photos or camera
select and post reply

 

[Mmathis]

Take a picture with your phone.
Open GPF with your phone
Click on upload a file at the bottom of the post
Scroll through your folders with in the phone probably find it under photos or camera
select and post reply

She posted a picture, but wrote 3 different posts, so it depends on which post you are looking at (I requested to have them merged). They are called scuds, tiny little amphipods AKA Gammarus. They look like tiny little shrimp or fleas, and are a sign of a healthy ecosystem.

 

[Becky]

The posts have now been merged into one topic

 

[Mmathis]

@Becky Thank you!

 

[Becky]

@Becky Thank you!

@addy1 merged the topics so I don't feel like I can take credit here! I deleted the duplicate post though. Thanks for bringing it to our attention