Tiny white creature in tank

[sfinster]

I recently ordered some more shrimp from Mustafa, and almost immediately I had 4 berried shrimp. I also have a 5x magnifying glass, and I enjoy looking at the newly hatched shrimp up close. This morning I noticed one of them was no longer floating - it was sitting on the side of the tank. I put my magnifier up, and noticed a tiny white dot above the baby shrimp. Then I saw that the dot was moving, and suddenly it "jumped" and crashed into the shrimp. It is too small for me to get a picture. This is a recently cycled, lidded tank (with vents). Any idea what it could be?

[sfinster]

I was hoping someone would have an idea. The next time I saw this creature I smashed it against the side of the tank.

[Dch48]

Probably some kind of Copepod but hard to know. Was there only one?

[robokirk]

I just turned on my light today and there was a ton of tiny white things swimming about. I have never seen them before in my tank. Attached is the best picture I could get. Is this the same thing you saw?

[sfinster]

That looks like it. They're so tiny it's hard to tell. I haven't seen any moving as vigorously as the one that attacked the tiny shrimplet. I need to get a better magnifier, too.

If they aren't a problem, I won't worry about it.

[robokirk]

I am sure others can chime in, but everything i am reading more or less says they are fine, a sign of good water.

[JDillon]

Do they attack the baby shrimp? And if they do is there anyway to get rid of them?

[mike.d]

It might be daphnia. I had them. They swim in a jerky motion. They're very small, less than .5 mm. If you look close with a strong magnifier, you might be able to see two deer-antler-like claws. I ignored them and they died off, or the shrimp ate them...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daphnia_pulex

It's nothing to worry about. Your shrimp will outlive anything that small.