Help with Creepy Crawler

[skillful abbot]

Tanks been cycling for a week now,
I just did a water change and found these larvae[?] wiggling around. They give me goosebumps and I found that they make some kind of cocoon? I plucked one out and snapped some shots. Any idea what these are? Are they dangerous to fish and or humans?

Worm Pics:
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k269/skillfulabbot/worm_2.jpg
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k269/skillfulabbot/worm_1.jpg

Cocoon in water:
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k269/skillfulabbot/cocoon2.jpg
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k269/skillfulabbot/cocoon1.jpg

 

[liv2padl]

i strongly doubt they're dangerous to fish and in fact, i'll bet many fish species would joyfully make a meal of them. are these IN the water, IN the gravel - or - above the water line?

 

[skillful abbot]

Thanks Liv2Padl
Not sure where they are situated. When I can see one its usually flipping out, riding the current. The ones I took a picture of are attached to plant leaves. I haven't seem them above the line, or in the stone. But my eyesight is that great either. They are about the size of a grain of dechlorinator.

 

[liv2padl]

you've got aquatic larvae of the order Diptera, which contains many well known flies such as: blackflies, mosquitoes, horseflies, midges, and the craneflies to name a few.

during the general life cycle, the Diptera undergo complete metamorphosis with a larval, pupal, and adult stage. the larvae are very different in appearance from the adults. the pupal stage is a period of transformation between these two different forms. the larvae are usually found in the bottom sediments, in vegetation, or sometimes suspended from the water surface. most larvae do not swim and have a variety of adaptations for breathing which accounts for their sometimes strange shapes.

larval development can take as little as one week to as long as one year. when the adults are ready to emerge from the pupal case some will do it very quickly while others must take time for their new adult skin to harden.

 

[jm1212]

sounds like larve to me too. your fish will probably eat them sooner or later if they are big enough

horse flies are nasty

 

[Jessu]

Maybe you could throw out the cocoons. Im guessing that might help.