Bug identification

[Instagram]

Hi Guys, first post on the forums and I was wondering if someone could help me identify the bugs in my tank ?

It’s a fairly new tank that I was adding a few plants to, they seem to have been introduced via adding Java moss.

They initially start off wiggling around in the water column and then seem to settle on a surface and make a cocoon out of algae and other stuff.

Any ideas ?

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

first post on the forums and I was wondering if someone could help me identify the bugs in my tank ?

Welcome to UKAPS.

They initially start off wiggling around in the water column and then seem to settle on a surface and make a cocoon out of algae and other stuff.

Difficult to be sure from the photo, but from the description I'd be very surprised if they weren't non-biting Midge larvae and definitely nothing to worry about.

cheers Darrel

 

[Instagram]

Hi all,

Welcome to UKAPS.

Difficult to be sure from the photo, but from the description I'd be very surprised if they weren't non-biting Midge larvae and definitely nothing to worry about.

cheers Darrel

Cheers for the reply Darrel, it was a struggle getting a decent photo as they are so small but that’s good to know, if I continue to leave the tank as is will they eventually die off or do I need to do anything specific ?

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

if I continue to leave the tank as is will they eventually die off

They will probably pupate successfully and emerge as a <"non-biting midge">. You won't get any more, and if you did, fish will eat them with relish.

cheers Darrel

 

[Instagram]

Hi all,

They will probably pupate successfully and emerge as a <"non-biting midge">. You won't get any more, and if you did, fish will eat them with relish.

cheers Darrel

That’s perfect, cheers for the advice it’s greatly appreciated

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

That’s perfect, cheers for the advice it’s greatly appreciated

You are good. I do a bit of <"freshwater invertebrate work"> with my <"day job">, so I'm reasonably good with <"stray wee beasties"> in the aquarium.

cheers Darrel

 

[Instagram]

Hi all,

You are good. I do a bit of <"freshwater invertebrate work"> with my <"day job">, so I'm reasonably good with <"stray wee beasties"> in the aquarium.

cheers Darrel

I can tell you know your stuff

Just an update, a few of them have “hatched” if that’s what you would call it and I’ve attached what they look like below.

Excuse the aquarium mess I’m still yet to clean the sides before adding anything living

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
That is another "alien", a Mayfly larvae.

They come in a variety of forms, but that one is a "Swimming Mayfly" (Baetidae) and probably one called the "Pond Olive" (Cloeon dipterum). <"Cloeon dipterum | NatureSpot">

Cheers Darrel

 

[Tawny]

I may have something similar.
Can you help ID please!
I started setting up a new tank for aquascaping a week ago. The only livestock are a few nerite snails added 2 days ago. Lots of plants but they're still quite small. Today I have noticed a lot of these brown 'growths' on the spiderwood and rocks. Does anyone know what they are or what I should do about them? At the same time I noticed lots of wriggly worm-like things. I assume they came with the snails! I wonder if the brown things are their cocoons? They're not flatworms and def not planaria. They are grey/white with a brown head, almost more like larvae of some kind, they don't stick to glass just wiggle about. Maybe detritus worms but they don't look like photos I've seen of them. Hard to take photos of the actual wriggly things (7mm long) but tried a couple below...
30 gallon tank, tropica aqua soil. Ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 20ppm, pH7. Thanks.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
Welcome to UKAPS,

They are grey/white with a brown head, almost more like larvae of some kind, they don't stick to glass just wiggle about

These are non-biting midge larvae.

cheers Darrel