Maree from Melbourne Posted November 29, 2023 Share Posted November 29, 2023 Hi everyone! I just saw this critter in my tank…google images is showing it to be a mayfly. Should I be worried? Regards, Maree 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lennie Posted November 29, 2023 Share Posted November 29, 2023 It is a nymph and they are predators. They will hunt down your shrimp and fry, and maybe tiny fish too? I usually like to have a live tank with beneficial critters like copepods, detritus worms, snails, shrimp etc. But not all critters are good for the tank sadly. And these are one of those that are not. I hope you are keeping it in a different container, otherwise they are fairly hard to find and catch. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maree from Melbourne Posted November 29, 2023 Author Share Posted November 29, 2023 (edited) On 11/29/2023 at 11:01 PM, Lennie said: It is a nymph and they are predators. They will hunt down your shrimp and fry, and maybe tiny fish too? I usually like to have a live tank with beneficial critters like copepods, detritus worms, snails, shrimp etc. But not all critters are good for the tank sadly. And these are one of those that are not. I hope you are keeping it in a different container, otherwise they are fairly hard to find and catch. Thank you so much Lennie for your reply. I don’t have any shrimp or fry in the tank, and our smallest fish are rummy nose and glolight tetras. Hopefully they are ok. It’s quite late here in Melbourne, I will try and catch it in the morning. And am due to do a water change on the weekend (missed last weekend due to illness). We haven’t added any plants or fish for a few months, so I’m not sure how it came into the tank? Do you think my loaches will eat them? Thank you again for taking the time to reply. Edited November 29, 2023 by Maree from Melbourne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lennie Posted November 29, 2023 Share Posted November 29, 2023 On 11/29/2023 at 3:19 PM, Maree from Melbourne said: Thank you so much Lennie for your reply. I don’t have any shrimp or fry in the tank, and our smallest fish are rummy nose and glolight tetras. Hopefully they are ok. It’s quite late here in Melbourne, I will try and catch it in the morning. And am due to do a water change on the weekend (missed last weekend due to illness). We haven’t added any plants or fish for a few months, so I’m not sure how it came into the tank? Do you think my loaches will eat them? Thank you again for taking the time to reply. Hello again Maree, I had a similar topic back in the days. I'm sharing it here so maybe it may help answering your questions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maree from Melbourne Posted November 29, 2023 Author Share Posted November 29, 2023 On 11/29/2023 at 11:24 PM, Lennie said: Hello again Maree, I had a similar topic back in the days. I'm sharing it here so maybe it may help answering your questions Thank you Lennie for your link. Interesting and I will try not to panic!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOtrees Posted November 29, 2023 Share Posted November 29, 2023 If you don't have any baby shrimp or baby fish, the larvae is just a part of your ecosystem. It's likely a type of damselfly, which is like a dragonfly but more slender and delicate, usually. Not sure how different the groups might be where you are (maybe they fly in circles the other way?). The leaf shape of the rear appendages are distinctive for damselfly larvae, I believe. They're actually gills, for respiration (snapping turtles aren't the only things that breathe from their butts). You may have acquired the critter via something that was added to the tank, but I believe that in warmer climates it's not uncommon for them to come indoors, and deposit their eggs on the surface of our aquariums. Just because you didn't see it doesn't mean it didn't happen. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt B Posted November 29, 2023 Share Posted November 29, 2023 Honestly, I think that is really cool. That kind of stuff goes on all the time in our 20 gal outdoor wine barrel ponds. Last year, we watched the transformation of a dragon fly larvae to adult. It's was really neat to see the dragon fly unfold it's wings and eventually fly off! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maree from Melbourne Posted November 30, 2023 Author Share Posted November 30, 2023 On 11/29/2023 at 11:55 PM, TOtrees said: If you don't have any baby shrimp or baby fish, the larvae is just a part of your ecosystem. It's likely a type of damselfly, which is like a dragonfly but more slender and delicate, usually. Not sure how different the groups might be where you are (maybe they fly in circles the other way?). The leaf shape of the rear appendages are distinctive for damselfly larvae, I believe. They're actually gills, for respiration (snapping turtles aren't the only things that breathe from their butts). You may have acquired the critter via something that was added to the tank, but I believe that in warmer climates it's not uncommon for them to come indoors, and deposit their eggs on the surface of our aquariums. Just because you didn't see it doesn't mean it didn't happen. Thank you so much TOtrees for your response Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guppysnail Posted November 30, 2023 Share Posted November 30, 2023 On 11/29/2023 at 7:55 AM, TOtrees said: but I believe that in warmer climates it's not uncommon for them to come indoors, and deposit their eggs on the surface of our aquariums I get them every summer. This was mine this year. For whatever reason there are ALWAYS 6 of them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maree from Melbourne Posted November 30, 2023 Author Share Posted November 30, 2023 (edited) On 11/30/2023 at 1:23 PM, Guppysnail said: I get them every summer. This was mine this year. For whatever reason there are ALWAYS 6 of them. Oh wow! How do you get rid of them? Google tells me to use No Planaria. Was hoping my yo-yos would eat it! Edited November 30, 2023 by Maree from Melbourne Spelling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guppysnail Posted November 30, 2023 Share Posted November 30, 2023 On 11/30/2023 at 2:36 AM, Maree from Melbourne said: Oh wow! How do you get rid of them? Google tells me to use No Planaria. Was hoping my yo-yos would eat it! No planaria is not going to kill these ans far ans I know but try if you like. No planaria is shrimp safe.I’d be curious to see if it did work. At this lifestage they are most similar to shrimp. Anything that kills these will kill everything in your tank. I net them out. Using a flashlight when the tank lights are out but room is dim helps. Their eyes shine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maree from Melbourne Posted November 30, 2023 Author Share Posted November 30, 2023 On 11/30/2023 at 10:43 PM, Guppysnail said: No planaria is not going to kill these ans far ans I know but try if you like. No planaria is shrimp safe.I’d be curious to see if it did work. At this lifestage they are most similar to shrimp. Anything that kills these will kill everything in your tank. I net them out. Using a flashlight when the tank lights are out but room is dim helps. Their eyes shine. Thank you- I will try and net them out ( I assume there are more than one 🥲) I definitely don’t want to kill any of my fish so will not use the No Planaria. Thank you for your assistance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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