I recently added some new flora and fauna to my already wildly growing refugium. Mysid shrimp now swarm in large groups just above the sand. The smallest ones loook like gnats whereas the large ones actually resemble very small shrimp. They swim rapidly and are constantly darting about. Several mini brittle stars climb in the fronds of the macroalgaes. Stomatella varia, a slug like snail with a small, inconspicuous shell, stick themselves to the glass just above the sand line. Orange spaghetti worms burrow into the sand and send out their tentacles on foraging expeditions. I have some which have burrowed right up against the front glass in plain view. I added some more bristle worms to the already growing number of the ever fattening critters. Some are around six inches long and rather plump.

I added several new macroalgaes as well. Razor Caulerpa (Caulerpa serrulata) is a neat looking algae with green serrated fronds. Also added were a Gracilaria sp., Caulerpa brachypus, an Ochtodes sp., and some others. The Feather Caulerpa (Caulerpa sertularioides) that has been in the refugium for awhile has grown madly.

Watching the worms, snails, shrimp, pods, and other critters crawling through the deep sand bed and over the algaes is fascinating. I like to take a magnifying glass and intently observe all of the goings on. Dropping a bit of food in usually results in a strange and varied group of dinner guests that are fun to watch.