Something I just pulled out of my fry tank...

[charliem177]

Ok,

I was working and as per usual when i get bored i end up just staring into my fry tank. Now I saw something that I first of all thought was just a string of plant matter but when I go closer this thing really made me jump. Its an insect thats about 1.5inch in length, it has 6 legs, it has a divided tail into 3 parts it swims like a fish. It looks like a cross between an ear-wig and and a mosquito with a fish tail - pretty nasty looking thing. Any ideas anyone?

I managed to net it out and stick it in a sealed jar but i will dispose of it soon after writing this. Ive been suffering from quite high fry mortality in a last week (1 -3 a day) with fry looking like they've had their tails eaten away. I just increased the water changes i was doing and hoped that the 'infection' would go away. Im pretty sure this thing has been eating my fry, its about 6 times bigger than them.

It must of got into my tank through me adding more live plants I bought at a lfs. damn it.


Charlie

[charliem177]

I just found another one in my tank. This is not good.

[charliem177]

Well because I have no idea what they are, they look like they are developing wings so ive striped the tank bare. Distroyed all my plants and floating plants that were in the tank (bit annoyed because there were a lot of them, hence the reason why I didnt see the b*****ds in there before) and done a 50% water change to syphon any eggs that they make have laid during their time in my tank. All i can do now is watch and wait.

c

[Roxane]

Charlie,

Eww! That's really weird! Can you take a pic of one of these things? 1 1/2 inch! That's huge for an aquatic insect (larvae/pupae). Or can you find something on good images that looks like it. It would be interesting to find out what it is!

I think you were right to completely strip the tank. Do you have a lid on the tank?


Roxy

[charliem177]

Yeah I had a lid on the tank so they must have gotten in on my plants. Ive looked all over the internet for a picture but cant find anything thats looks like them. I dont know whether they were a South East Asian insect which had laid its eggs on the plants before they were shipped to the uk. Do you think this is possible? Ive never seen anything that size before over here but I have virtually no knowledge of insects.

Charlie

[Roxane]

Charlie,

If it's developing wings, then it'll be in its pupal stage. Try trying in ' insect pupal stage' and see what comes up.

Roxy

[charliem177]

ok, they were damselfly pupae if now realised. I dont know much about the insect but i wasnt too impressed to see them in my tank lol

[charliem177]

From answers.com 'Hey all Damselfly larvae eats worms and small Gambuzia (small Fish)
CYA Sarah!!!' so they were eating my fry ...

[Roxane]

Charlie,

Must have come from the plants then. what a horrible thing to find in your tank!

Roxy

[charliem177]

Yeah and whats worse is that i moved back home for easter and i found another one in the tank. nightmare.