Wild bugs in aquaria?

Dwarf Puffers

Dwarf Puffers

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Dec 11, 2006
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NS, Canada
Just wondering if there is any problem with having a couple of those beetles that buzz around on the surface, or a water skipper in your tank.
 
I think you're referring to whirligig beetles. They are harmless to fish and are distasteful, so fish seldom eat them. Water striders are also harmless to fish except very small fry. The difficulty will be in keeping the animals fed (both are scavengers/opportunistic predators on floating insects) and preventing them from flying out into your home.
 
Would they prey on springtails? I have dozens, maybe hundreds of them in my 75g. I'd love to get rid of some, they're annoying.
 
They might, especially the water strider. I don't know how effective they would be at eliminating the springtails.
 
It's not that I need them eliminated. I'd just like a food source, and less springtails would be a bonus. I think my tanks would look a lot more natural though if there were some aquatic insects :)

Edit: Seems whirligigs are out (predatory larvae). Not sure about water striders, shoving their mouths into mosquito larvae and other aquatic creatures and sucking them dry sounds unsettling with hatchets in the tank :eek:
 
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I doubt any whirligig larvae would survive long enough to become a threat to your fish (they lack the offensive taste/smell of adults), and water striders wouldn't attack something as large as a hatchet. There are smaller surface-dwelling bugs such as thread-legged bugs and broad-shouldered striders, but your hatchets would probably eat them promptly.
 
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