Hitchhikers

[Discordia]

I bought some plants and noticed some hitchhikers when I rinsed the plants in a bucket. I moved them to a little plastic Tupperware container last night and they are still alive. I've been unable to ID them. Anyone know what they are? They are stick-like, green and brown, and have little legs. I'm just curious, as I've never came across these creatures.

 

[Mustangjenni]

Those look a lot like the caddisfly larvae I just found in some of my new plants!

attaching a picture of mine for comparison

 

[Discordia]

Those look a lot like the caddisfly larvae I just found in some of my new plants!

attaching a picture of mine for comparison

They don't squiggle when they move? Mine stay straight as they move. They literally look like little aquatic walking sticks.

 

[Mustangjenni]

Nope- they don’t squiggle. You should google them. The caddisfly larvae is basically hiding in a little tube it makes for itself with its head and a couple feet sticking out the top. It can sort of swim. But the tube is not flexible. From what I’ve read, they themselves are not harmful to a tank, but they do hatch into the adult caddisfly which will then fly out of the water and be inside. I had over 50 of them in my wash bucket... among other things.