What the hell is this in my tank???!!!

[Iain Sutherland]

Was just doing a water change and in doing so keeping an eye out for any baby shrimp that might get sucked up the syphon. So i saw something moving and cut off the syphon only to find this!!??
What the hell is it?? It definitely looks like a predator of some sort...
Stock in the tank is; Amanos, RCS, ottos, penguin tetra, gold nugget plec, 5 banded barbs and kuhli loaches.

 

[JenCliBee]

Dragon fly nymph maybe?. If so, yes it will eat small fish shrimp etc etc.

 

[Iain Sutherland]

that was my first thought but way too late in the year... no new plants in over 6 weeks and the tank is hooded?
wish i had something to keep it in to find out.... also no idea how to feed it...

 

[mlgt]

I would remove it as its looks like a damsel fly nymph? It will eat your shrimps

 

[Iain Sutherland]

i have just made it a new home in a vase with a heat mat under it and a couple of plants
it will probably die but who knows.... i thinking 50% water change for tank water every day??

 

[hinch]

submit it to here http://www.whatsthatbug.com/ask-whats-that-bug/

 

[spyder]

i have just made it a new home in a vase with a heat mat under it and a couple of plants
it will probably die but who knows.... i thinking 50% water change for tank water every day??

Sounds like a plan. Would they take down daphnia?

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

.... as its looks like a damsel fly nymph?

Definitely is a Damselfly nymph, and I'm pretty sure it isn't a UK species.

cheers Darrel

 

[Iain Sutherland]

Hi all,

.... as its looks like a damsel fly nymph?

Definitely is a Damselfly nymph, and I'm pretty sure it isn't a UK species.

cheers Darrel

Thanks Darrel ... why do you thinks its not a native species?
Apparently it can take up to 5 years to mature!!! Well it might be interesting to see what happens...

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

why do you thinks its not a native species?

I'm pretty sure none have the "knotted" joints in the legs, or the very prominent appendages at the front of the head. Demoiselle (Calopteryx) nymphs are "spidery", but it doesn't look right for them.

cheers Darrel