trinket

Hey everyone. I wasn't sure where to ask this, I saw there is an insect forum but it doesn't appear very active. I hope you don't mind my asking here.

Today (just now) I was testing my aquarium water because I'm working on a fishless cycle (with fish food for ammonia). There are no fish or anything in the tank, the only live things are some java moss, an anubias, and a snail.

While I was testing the water, I was checking out the moss because it's been looking a bit dead lately.

I noticed under a small river rock (about an inch or two in size on top of the gravel) was something green. At first I thought it was a stray piece of java moss, but as I looked closer, I realized it's not moss at all but some freaky insect.

I got it out with my net-I can't tell what it is. It's green, about an inch long. it's tail end is split into 3 and it seems to have a larger head, with legs nearby. I did a google search and it seems similar to a damselfly naiad but not quite (maybe it's younger than the pictures I've found).

Does this sound like something anyone is familiar with? Where did it come from?? I bleached the plants when I got them a month ago, you would think any baby insects would have died in the process. As far as I know, the room with the tank is quite bug-less, so I don't think any flying insect would have access to come along and lay eggs.

If anyone knows what it might be, is it harmful?

I will try to get a picture when my camera has charged.

Elodea

What you've got there is a damselfly naiad, the nymph of a circumpolar bluet, Enallagma cyanigerum. Most likely the eggs of the damselfly survived the bleaching, and they hatched.

This naiad is far too small to eat any of your fish unless they are fry-sized, but may prey on small freshwater shrimp if you have them. Though it should be fine in your aquarium, for the peace of your mind, you could release it into a small pond nearby (they are a native species). Try not to kill it if you haven't already.

trinket

I don't want to kill it, even though it's freaked me out a bit I would feel too bad.

I'm wondering how many could be in my aquarium, any way of knowing? How long do they live for, in an aquarium?

Thanks for the reply!

Elodea

Hope this isn't too late.

They'll live for a few months, then, if you have some reed-likek plants sticking out to above the water level, they'll crawl above the surface of the water and molt one last time, turning into a damselfly.

jr177

ive never heard of a bug in an aquarium

trinket

A few months? Really? What I googled says they live under water for years.

None of my plants go from the bottom of the tank out of the water, hmm.

It always catches me off guard when I see it, haha. I'll move a rock or something and it'll scurry out. It was chilling in my java moss earlier.

Elodea

Nah, those are mayflies. Live a few years underwater and spend 24 hours as an adult. Can you post a picture of the insect?

trinket

This is from google, but it looks just like this.
I'd have to rummage around the tank to find it, haha.



From this website, which is where I got info on how long they live
http://www.bumblebee.org/invertebrates/Odonata1.htm

hooedc

wow that is crazy. yeah it would of kind of freaked me out as well if I seen that in my tank. lol

trinket

ahaha no kidding!

It still surprises me whenever I see it. But knowing it's harmless makes me feel better.

mr. Clown Loach

i wonder if your fish will end up eating that...the world may never know...

trinket

I wonder the same thing, but it hides really well. So long as it doesn't start swimming around the surface, I think it'll be alright.

Elodea

Yep, that's what I'm thinking, too. Instead of it eating your fish your fish might try to snack on it.

cyclops110

Yesterday i noticed I had one of these in my shrimp tank. I've been puzzled as to what it is until now. It is only about 10mm long, but I suppose I should begin sweeping the tank for it.

trinket

I haven't seen it in a pretty long time now-I'm convinced either my frogs or the fish ate it, poor bug. I had given it a name and everything!

anaugle

I found a dead ant in my Beta tank. It did freak me out when I seen it. I'm sure he drowned once he fell in. Stupid bug!! I was surprised that my Beta didn't try to eat him since he eats everything.Maybe he didn't like the smell of it. Hahaha....

Zenial

Hey, I found one of these damselfly nymphs in my tank just today too! They're very cute