strange critters

Question
QUESTION: I have a 65 gal saltwater set up 30 days ago. got some live rock from a friend..tank now has 6 damsels 3 big snails and several small hermits..I noticed several small white star fish  starting to show up.
now I looked in the tank lastnight with a flashlight and there were small snails crawling around and small creatures crawling around the bottom. they looked like bugs? fleas? they burrowed into the bottom wshen I turned the light on

ANSWER: Hi Bob,

The white bugs are called Copepods. They are in a healthy system and are a very good sign.  That means life is beginning to team in the tank.

You must have got some good live rock to start with.  

The starfish can be either good or bad, depending on what they look like.  You are welcome to incorporate an image and I can give you advice once I see it, of both the starfish and the snails.

There are often snails in the sandbed that you do not notice until dark, when they rise.  Nassarius and Cerith are common snails which this behavior is attributed to, and there are some very harmless reef snails which do the same, but there are also very bad snails which come out at night, ie: Assassin Snails and other carnivorous snails.  Usually, this is not the case.

If you bought the live sand from a friend, and live rock from a friend, you will have in your tank the things that he has.  If he has nothing harmful, you probably don't have anything harmful, as well, however it might be a good idea to have him take a look at what's crawling around just to make sure it's okay.

Often, Planaria form.  They will look like tiny, cream-colored or white slugs on the side of the tank.  Microscopic.  If they do form, there is too much food going into the tank.  Otherwise, they are pretty harmless and if you cut back on food, they will dissipate.

I hope this helps to answer your questions and you are more than welcome to send a followup question if necessary and/or to include images.

It sounds to me as if life is coming around in your tank, and that's a good sign.  Things are going well for it.

Happy fish-keeping.

Renee

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???   QUESTION: what are these?

Answer
Hi Bob,

Copepod.  It's a live copepod and it looks very healthy and happy.  It will breed and make babies and they will help to support your system.

I say this with 100% certainty.  It is a harmless, beneficial creature.  They are like baby shrimp.

This is a good thing.

Renee