Water from Panama City Beach, What Are These Things In It?

Sorry Mods if I have posted this in the wrong forum, I didn't want to directly relate this to the Deepwater Disaster, even though I wonder if that has something to do with what I am presenting, it is possible though that it is perfectly normal and just something I managed to miss in my lifetime somehow.

I was in Panama City Beach in September, on vacation, and when we were leaving my husband took a mason jar he brought from home down to the beach and scooped up a bit of sand and water to take home, we knew it would probably turn green and stink like it always has in the past, but a friend of mine's daughter asked us to get it. Anyway here it is 24 days later and the water is still clear as a bell, that is kind of strange in itself, but what is even weirder is that there is some kind of little bug like things living in it. I kept seeing something moving in the jar, so I sat it right in front of me with the lights turned up, and a magnifying glass, sure enough these tiny white things fly up to the top of the water then back to the sand and bury themselves. They are no bigger than a flea if even that big. They are fast. Under the magnifying glass, they look like they have a fish like tail, on a flea like body, including numerous 'legs' or some kind of tenicles. What in the hell could this be?

Sorry no pics tonight, I will try to get some on here tomorrow, or Sunday night, I didn't think to take a picture of them, don't know really if I can, they move so fast!

In one corner of the jar, down in the sand, they are depositing black stuff, I moved it around by tillting the jar, next day it was all in a neat spot again. They have dug holes all in the sand in the bottom and side of the jar, kind of like ants make tunnels in their hills.

Anybody got any ideas on what this could be?

I have no clue. Sounds odd, though. I can't wait to see the pics.

Nobody? I was sure someone on ATS would have some ideas. I let my imagination get away with me, I was thinking that what if, something had been introduced into the water, some type of living things that ingest either oil or corexit, and this is why Panama City managed to remain crystal clear while Pensacola Beach got hit with oil. What if. someone tell me it is something much simpler than that.

I think those are called "Brine shrimp".

2

reply to post by chiponbothshoulders


Do they clean the water? The water in the jar has gotten no oxygen for 24 days now, and is clear, there is no sign of any carcasses or anything like it. I am suprised they are still living.

WATER/SAND MONSTERS!

reply to post by space cadet


I would be more interested in why the water is staying clear, since you have indicated that is out of the norm. You should also have that water tested to see what chemicals are in it and what you have exposed yourself to by going in or near the gulf water. Once again, people follow blindly when the government says everythings ok. Surley you did not eat the seafood! A very good link that can give you the real information on what is still happening in the gulf is www.floridaoilspilllaw.com

reply to post by space cadet


Well it does sound a bit odd. I would also like to see some pics
Was the location he got the water near a fresh water river outlet by chance?

reply to post by drifter1109


I did not eat the seafood nor did I get into the ocean, I was there for a family reunion and vacation, I never swim in the ocean, I saw a 5 yr old taken under when I was young and never could bring myself to get back in. I love it though, it is beautiful and beckons me.

I don't think this is brine shrimp, I watched on youtube several videos of brine shrimp at various stages of life and they don't look like what I see in this jar of water. And again, something is keeping the water extremely clear.

reply to post by SLAYER69


Slayer we got the sample from the beach, right smack behind the hotel, in the center of Panama City Beach area. Not sure if that is near a freshwater supply or not, but I don't think it is.

The sample was taken from just a little way out in the water.

reply to post by space cadet



Do they sorta look like these?

Linky

Hi SC!
Could they be copepods? Photos at links

www.shop.trilbytropicals.com...;jsessionid=868F775F2C77113660B9886502FC4D0B.qscstrfrnt05< br />
invertebrates.si.edu...

en.wikipedia.org...

sweet! a mystery to solve. ok once all the usual suspects are eliminated i think maybe you should buy a cheap usb microscopes try to get one of these critters on a slide and get a really close picture of one. then im sure someone on here with a background in marine biology could help us out. failing that we can all send out emails to people that do research onto marine biology with the pictures to try to identify the little buggers.

its interesting that they have survived so long without oxygenated water. i used to have fish and i know salt water goes off its not treated with oxygen.

interesting in deed

I live just outside of PCB, on one of the bays, and go to parts of PCB more than several times a month. No issues here.

Originally posted by space cadet
reply to post by drifter1109

 

I did not eat the seafood nor did I get into the ocean, I was there for a family reunion and vacation, I never swim in the ocean, I saw a 5 yr old taken under when I was young and never could bring myself to get back in. I love it though, it is beautiful and beckons me.

It is indeed and you should go in... it's good for the soul in my experience. Also, my wife runs a seafood restaurant and there are no issues there either.

Just sayin'.

reply to post by Rren


You are very lucky to live in such a beautiful area, I lived there for many years growing up, on Tyndall AFB for the most part.

I love seafood, but never got the pleasure of eating any while I was there, it just didn't happen, my husband hates seafood, but he bought into the Jimmy Buffet Margaritaville place, it sucked. Even he didn't like it, he said Jimmy sold out, lol!

I am just scared of the ocean, like I said, I saw another kid get pulled under, it happened so fast and he was gone, and I was just a kid myself of 7 when it happened, but I cannot bring myself to get in the ocean more than my feet.

So I will bring pictures and put them up when I get to work tommorow night, it will be after 1030pm eastern time.

So far of all the suggestions of what it could be, the copapods kinda look close, but these have no color in them at all.

Alright folks, excuse the quality, my camera is cheap and it shows, sorry

Here is a video of them, pictures next,


s268.photobucket.com...

very clear water

The 'dirt' corner and some holes

They look like pods to me. I have things like that in my saltwater tank. With the sand you got from the beach it is "live sand". It has all the bacteria that is needed to keep the water going for awhile. Just of curiosity did you have any kind of algae bloom in the water. It did not have to be anything crazy but maybe a bit of brown looking stuff? (Diatoms). It might have lasted a couple of days or so if you noticed. If you did then that little jar of water had a mini cycle (nitrate, nitrite, ammonia).

Tank Cycle
This could apply to your little jar of water as well. Substitute the fish with your copepods.

Pod Pictures

Wow, I too am interested in finding out more.


Fwiw Your husband is right, Jimmy DID sell out.
For a few reasons, I stopped being a Parrot-head.
He became what he sang about in his earlier days.