What is this? Please

fin-atic

AC Members
Apr 21, 2005
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Canada
I was looking in my tank today and happen to see something moving on the substrate. We were able to suck it up with our vacuum. I can't take a picture of him so I will try to explain him as best as possible. It has the head of a praying manits, with large eyes. It's body is a tear drop shape, and it has 6 legs. It's colour is kind of beige with bits of black on it. It is only about 1cm long. It "swims" very fast, does not glide on the water. It's back end seems to stick up in the air with two little points on the end. I did a vacuum yesterday and seen no other things that would make me wonder what was picked up. What is this, or what subject could I look up. It is deffinatley not a shrimp.
 
Is it number 1?
This is a dragon fly larvae
dragonfly2.jpg


or number 2?

this here is a stonefly larvae
stripedbug.jpg
 
I would never ever want to find something like that inside my tank. Ever.

Can't those things eat fish? Little ones like neons or glo-lights.
 
Yes, in the wild they will feed on fish, although I would guess they are more scavangers than active hunters.
 
Actually, dragonfly larvae are hunters. They can catch and eat fish as big as they are. I saw an interesting show on Discovery that showed dragonfly larvae hunting. They lay in wait, and ambush fish with amazing speed. Not something you want to have in your tank.
 
Aqualung said:
Actually, dragonfly larvae are hunters. They can catch and eat fish as big as they are. I saw an interesting show on Discovery that showed dragonfly larvae hunting. They lay in wait, and ambush fish with amazing speed. Not something you want to have in your tank.

Just look at these guys as the Mantis Shrimp of the fresh water world. I think these guys would be cool to have and there are those collectors that have them as pets.

The ever popular Mantis shrimp.
mantispose.jpg
 
Oh my God, it is the smaller one in #1 - the dragon fly larvae. The last plant we put in the tank was from the LFS and has been in there for a minimum of three to four weeks. Will there be more. We noticed that our baby BN pleco had a large scratch on him, could this thing have done it.?

Wow, thanks guys, you have no idea what a relief this is.
 
fin-atic said:
Oh my God, it is the smaller one in #1 - the dragon fly larvae. The last plant we put in the tank was from the LFS and has been in there for a minimum of three to four weeks. Will there be more. We noticed that our baby BN pleco had a large scratch on him, could this thing have done it.?

Wow, thanks guys, you have no idea what a relief this is.
I wouldnt kill the guy, if you know someone with a garden pool or just relocate it to a local pond. Let him grow and live free. :) OR if you have a spare 2.5 gallon tank and some plants, it would be cool to keep him and release him when he gets bigger to fly.
 
True it would have been neat. However, my husband felt differently to the dismay of my three year old son :sad: ! I am just worried there are more. I vacuumed the S!@t out of that tank one week ago and got nothing. I took up the decorations and he never was noted. Interesting experience!!
 
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