View Full Version : Strange 'eggs' in my tank
I've found something strange in my tank - some kind of eggs, I think!
They are in clumps of about 1/8 " (3 mm) in size, which might contain about 10 'eggs'. They are tiny dots, surrounded by clear goo. It looks like frogspawn, but much smaller. I've found about 4 clumps of the eggs on the plastic plants in my 5 gal breeder tank.
The contents of the tank are:
1 pregnant guppy
1 pleco
1 algae eater
3 v small snails
1 unidentified 'bug'
The bug is about 1/4 " in size. Dark colour. Straggly legs. Submerged in the water, not on the surface. Picture attached.
Any ideas what this bug is, and whether the eggs are from it?
can you get a picture of the egg sacks? sounds like snail egg clusters.
also a clearer picture of the "bug"
does it have 6 legs or 8 (trying to rule out an arachnid)
Dangerdoll
04-05-2006, 6:47 PM
the eggs are most definitely snail egg sacs and the bug, I'm guessing more than likely it's a dragonfly larvae.
the eggs are most definitely snail egg sacs and the bug, I'm guessing more than likely it's a dragonfly larvae.
Snails? Cool! (Snails are good, right?)
What would you recommend about the bug? Keep it or kill it? I've tried to get a better picture, but it's very difficult.
Thanks
Dangerdoll
04-05-2006, 7:54 PM
I wouldn't want it in there. Whether it's good or not, I'm not sure.
as for the snails, depending on your water parameters and feedings, you may quickly become inundated with them. A lot of people cosider these types an eyesore. They are common pond snails.
Your tank is a bit small for the pleco, he's going to need upwards of a 75 gallon tank to grow to his full potential. What kind of algae eater is it that you have?
gkeren
04-05-2006, 10:38 PM
It's most definetly a dragonfly or damselflylarvae, both are carnivorous and can eat things much bigger then themselves. They are known to eat fish, tadpoles, salamanders, and other arthropods. Depending on the size it is now, I would watch your fingers if you decide to catch it.
Dangerdoll
04-05-2006, 10:57 PM
I would think it's a dragonfly larvae over the damselfly because of the shape. Typically, the dragonfly is more round bodied and the damselfly larvae is more long and thin. As mentioned above, not a friend for the tank....
JoeRags3
04-06-2006, 7:42 AM
I would think it's a dragonfly larvae over the damselfly because of the shape. Typically, the dragonfly is more round bodied and the damselfly larvae is more long and thin. As mentioned above, not a friend for the tank....
Dangerdoll and Gkeren are correct... The order Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) lay their eggs in the water, which hatch into aquatic nymphs (called naiads). They are predators and will kill and eat other insects, tadpoles and fish! If you still have it in there when you guppy gives birth to those new fry I'de worry that they would be eaten, or even your guppy being eaten prior to that. Get it out of there ASAP.
Here's my question to you though. How did you get a dragonfly or damselfly naiad in your tank in the first place? Do you have live plants from the wild? Use pond water or something?
Dangerdoll
04-06-2006, 8:07 AM
Sometimes they come in on the plants (as well as the pond snails) from the LFS. Last year it was quite common...
It's out! Creepy-looking bug! :eek:
How did you get a dragonfly or damselfly naiad in your tank in the first place? Do you have live plants from the wild? Use pond water or something?I've no idea how it got in there. Nope - I don't use pond water, and the only places I've ever gotten plants from are Superpet and Walmart. Mystery!
That probably explains what's happened to my guppy fry, though. I've been watching the tank for a few days, expecting fry. I found one yesterday, but it looked at least a day or two old. I guess the rest must have been eaten!
I'm not sure what to do with the snails. There are already quite a lot of tiny snails in there, so I'll remove any eggs I find. Would having too many snails be harmful or just not pretty?
Thanks for the advice!
Dangerdoll
04-06-2006, 8:23 AM
just not pretty.... If you keep the feedings at a minimum for the fish and keep good water maintenance, they won't thrive though so you won't really have too big of a problem. If you notice there are starting to be millions of snails everywhere, it's a sure indication the feedings should be less.
If snails get too numerious, just drop a leaf of lettus overnight and remove it the next morning with snails attached. There's a great beginners guide to snails in the Article Corner forum.
gkeren
04-06-2006, 3:02 PM
Dangerdoll and Gkeren are correct...
thanks, hehe. I should know something, being a biology teacher and all, hehe. ;)
thefirethief
04-06-2006, 5:01 PM
A few days ago I found the exact same cluster of eggs csdax seems to be describing. I had 10 trumpet snails in from the tank from the start, but they've all but disappeared by the looks of it. No idea where to.
Hannys_Papa
04-06-2006, 5:49 PM
...I had 10 trumpet snails in from the tank from the start, but they've all but disappeared by the looks of it. No idea where to.
Into the substrate ? They like to dig and stay in the substrate at daytime.
id recommend keeping the dragonfly larvae, but because i love insects and stuff, it would be a very cool invertebrate to watch grow, they are really cool creatures, it would eat the guppy fry and eventually the guppies, so id suggest setting it up in its own 5-10 gallon (preferably 10) with a couple (minimum) feeder guppies. it might be some work, but it would be REALLY cool if you could keep it for the about 2 years required for it to metamorphose. ~if you decide to do this, either do more research or post on this thread/pm me for more info on how to keep it
if you don't want it, please don't kill it (unless you have no time or options) dragonflies eat TONS of other insects, especially other flying things, including biting flies... just net the little booger and put it in a pond or river nearby :)
again- they are REALLY cool inverts and can be fun to watch as it grows over the next 2 years.
oo yea, and trumpet snails ( i think you mean MTS) are live bearers, no eggs
thefirethief
04-06-2006, 6:45 PM
oo yea, and trumpet snails ( i think you mean MTS) are live bearers, no eggs
Yeah, thats exactly what I thought. Ive no idea where these eggs could have came from then.
Hanneys papa, thats what ive been thinking, but even during the day I used to see them half buried. Ive introduced some yoyo loaches but didnt think theyd be able to get into the shell when its closed.
Who knows, its no big deal anyway.