Please Help Me Identify The Catepillar I Found In My Tank?

Hi, I'm not sure what this guy is. It looks like a very hairy caterpillar. He has wrapped himself up in a blade or several blades of grass and appeared to be eating the algae off my tank...it didn't notice him until the grass stopped floating at the edge of the tank and started climbing down the wall. In the tank I only have amano shrimp, feeder minnows and some black mollies....at first I thought it might be a larvae from the shrimp, but after looking up photos I'm not so sure. Any help appreciated. thanks.

catepillar - looking underneath

• mes0
• Jan 28, 2017

 

The picture didn't work. Be very careful with hairy caterpillars, it could be an asp or a relative to it with stinging hairs. Asps tend to live near oak trees eating their debris. Did this grass come from near an oak tree? Is it black or white/gray/tan? Or is it just an aquatic creature that looks like a caterpillar? Some larvae look like caterpillars.

 

the picture worked...the catepillar thing is at the bottom of the grass and is basically at the center of the .

The grass is some kind of aquatic grass purchased at the local pet shop...it's definitely some kind of aquatic larvae but not sure which kind...he's very furry or spiky..and very tiny...maybe 1-2mm across and maybe a centimeter long (but I can't see all of him because he's tucked into that grass pretty good).

 

Picture did not upload.

 

very odd because I see the photo showing up in my replies...
I've just re-uploaded

caterpillar3

• mes0
• Jan 28, 2017

with a different title

 

It works fine for me, but I can't identify it. Looks like a water beetle of some sort, I suggest removing it before it causes any harm.

 

very odd because I see the photo showing up in my replies...
I've just re-uploaded

caterpillar3

• mes0
• Jan 28, 2017

with a different title

Still no photo only photo address.

 

Here's some better photos

IMG_0823

• mes0
• Jan 28, 2017

IMG_0824

• mes0
• Jan 28, 2017

 

It works on browser but not the app. I agree with Sarcasm Included, it does look like a water beetle or some type of larvae.