hitchhiker ID?

hootiefish

hootiefish

AC Members
Sep 13, 2004
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Raleigh, NC
Hi, I was wondering if anyone could help me identify a critter that just showed up in my tank. I got a new plant last week and am assuming he came in on it. It has 3 legs on each side and looks kind of like a praying mantis, with a long tail after the legs that it tries to grab and hold onto things with. I killed one but pretty sure there is another in there. Is it harmful? Thanks for any help!
 
Maybe a crawdad, some pictures would help. If it is a crawdad, it would only pose a threat to the smallest of fish
 
With no pic it's hard to say. Most likely I'd say it's either a damselfly nymph or a dragon fly nymph. The damselfly larvae are usually harmless unless you have really little fish. The dragon fly on the other hand might be more of an issue.
hth
Chris
 
The mouth parts, the mask, of fly nymphs ( Damselfly, Dragonfly) look a bit like a praying mantis. If you have any small fish it may be a danger to them. Is it kind of slow moving? Dragonfly nymphs usually crawl slowly along the substrate. Damselflies are more active. They climb among plants to attack prey.
 
I used to be grossed out by the nymphs down at the lakes we went to, I would be bummed to see one appear in my tank. Put a loach in with em' -heh-
that would teach the little critter!! :laugh:
 
damselfly nymph:
Damselfly-nymph-Marie-Fletc.jpg




dragonfly nymph:
dragonflynymph.jpg




Which one you got?
 
Ick! Yep, I would say I have a damselfly nymph. Thanks for the pictures! And for the advice too! I have a cory, maybe he'll eat it when he finds it. I also have some neon tetras in this tank, I hope the one that is still in there won't hurt them. At least we know one of the nymphs is in the big toilet in the sky....
 
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