Insect in tank??

[MattyKinz]

Hello all!
I have a fairly large piece of Malaysian drift wood in my 10 gallon. I picked it up today to see if I could find a nerite that I hadn’t seen in a few days and I actually found this little critter making their home under it! I’m not sure how long he/she has been there but I’m just curious as to what it is?? Any help? And should I just leave them be?

 

[DuaneV]

Looks like a Damselfly nymph. Pretty harmless little guy.

 

[RyanC14]

They eat small invertebrates and fish though, so if you have any small animals in the tank you should remove it.

 

[Sprinkle]

Looks like a Damselfly nymph. Pretty harmless little guy.

They will eat small inverts and fish. No, they are harmful.

 

[MattyKinz]

They eat small invertebrates and fish though, so if you have any small animals in the tank you should remove it.

Well I have 6 neon tetras, 1 dwarf gourami, 2 serpent loaches and 2 nerites. But my tetras are substantially bigger than the nymph and I can’t imagine him being able to take one down...however I am by no means an expert. Do you think it would still be a problem?

 

[TWiG87]

Personally, I would get rid of it. There’s no real advantage to keeping it

 

[itsEmma]

Hi,
You're probably technically ok with those slightly larger fish but they definitely would go for smaller inhabitants. We had one in the guppy tank at work and it was picking off the babies regularly. Then, when the lady 'in charge' of the tank removed it and kept it in a jar "as an experiment" she used to feed it some of the millions of baby snails that were rampant in the tank.
I'm a Primary school teacher and the tank is in the Medical Room, the children loved it, one of then named it "Horace", absolutely no idea why!
Emma

 

[DuaneV]

They will eat small inverts and fish. No, they are harmful.

No, Damselfly larvae dont. If you're talking newborn fry, maybe, but in the wild they eat insect larvae and small insects like Mosquito larvae. A Damselfly larvae is completely harmless to any full grown fish or shrimp.

 

[saltwater60]

Well I have 6 neon tetras, 1 dwarf gourami, 2 serpent loaches and 2 nerites. But my tetras are substantially bigger than the nymph and I can’t imagine him being able to take one down...however I am by no means an expert. Do you think it would still be a problem?

Chop it up and feed it to the fish. Take no chances as they are amazing little hunters.

No, Damselfly larvae dont. If you're talking newborn fry, maybe, but in the wild they eat insect larvae and small insects like Mosquito larvae. A Damselfly larvae is completely harmless to any full grown fish or shrimp.

They eat fish. Here’s a video. Granted it small but I wouldn’t risk it.

 

[DuaneV]

Like I said, they might eat a newborn fry. Not any grown fish.

 

[Debbie1986]

yeah that's a no for me. I really don't want that thing propagating or living rent free in my tank. lol

That video , as soon as he gripped the fry I was like 'let him go!!! ' ack, nature you so cruel

 

[Kevin1962]

Well I have 6 neon tetras, 1 dwarf gourami, 2 serpent loaches and 2 nerites. But my tetras are substantially bigger than the nymph and I can’t imagine him being able to take one down...however I am by no means an expert. Do you think it would still be a problem?

A damsel fly nymph can easily kill a neon tetra. The loaches may eat him but the nymphs are pretty tough.