Larva? Worm? Help!

HI everyone! In the last couple of days I’ve been finding these little things in my tank. I’ve added live plants about 3 weeks ago, and am just seeing these little guys now..

Every one of them with the exception of one so far have been found wrapped in a piece of one of my plants. I was able to unwrap one Of them and posted a photo of it as well.

Also, I just now found one outside of its leaf, wiggling and stretching in my tank..

Anyone know what this is!? Help!!!

 

I can't tell a whole lot from the pictures, but my first guess - and it is just that, a guess! - would be an aquatic moth larvae? There's more than one type, so you'd have to do some research.

Since you can get a look at it in person, see if this info seems to match what you visually observe:
https://www.waterbugkey.vcsu.edu/ph...how=1636&fa=Pyralidae&o=Lepidoptera&ls=larvae

It gives characteristics you can look for.

Also, since you just got the plants, were they grown submerged? What part of the world did they come from? This may help give an idea of what we can rule out.

 

Thank you so much! I will definitely try to look at more info about the moth and compare to my buggies.

My husband bought them online, they were grown submerged and I believe the company is located in Arizona.

 

I'll do some looking and see if I can find something that might be native in that area that's similar to your pics. Maybe someone more familiar will chime in, too!

 

I agree with AquaBaby. We call them China Mark Moths and these are the aquatic larvae (or caterpillars) which usually build a camouflage jacket out of leaves.

Another animal which behaves similarly is the Caddis Fly larva but I think it is the moth in this case as far as I can see from the photos.

 

Great, thank you guys so much for your input and help!! When I saw the one outside of its wrap, I thought it may be a snail that lost its shell because of how it was moving, that is, until it started making a loop with its “head” around other plants nearby with its “ butt” staying in the same place..it just didn’t look snail like anymore....

Do you have any idea how to get rid of them? Not looking so forward to having a family of moths join us!!

 

I can't find anything I would say is definitely it.

I've read conflicting information on how to get rid of them, but most that use chemicals or change in water parameters are dependent on your tank occupants and positively identifying the creature (to know what its tolerance and susceptibility is). Then there are suggestions of letting your fish eat them, which, again depends on positive id to make sure it isn't harmful to your fish, and this assumes you have fish that can and will eat them. However, there are quite a few people that just recommend manually removing them from your tank.

I have absolutely zero experience to help you with this part, though. Hoping someone who has dealt with this issue can give you their input.

 

Thank you Aquababy for your help!!! We are a little overwhelmed with these new things we’re finding in our tank. Apparently we also have a leech.

Going to go the the local fish store to see what they suggest for treatment..

Thank you again!

 

You are more than welcome, MelMar! I hope y'all are able to get it all sorted out quickly and enjoy your tank!

And, welcome to Fishlore