Just Looked Into One Of My Fry Tanks

[thegnu]

a DRAGONFLY LARVAE.
horrible looking beastie. i know what they look like having seen them on countless wildlife programs.
anyone else found one in their tank?

 

[J4MES]

a DRAGONFLY LARVAE.
horrible looking beastie. i know what they look like having seen them on countless wildlife programs.
anyone else found one in their tank?

Iv'e never had one but you need to get it out ASAP! They will make quick snacks out of your fry!

J4MES

 

[Jamesham]

i found one in my 60 litre when I was cleaning it. I wondered how only 1 swordtails survived but I guess this is the answer.

 

[Tommo]

Are you sure it was a dragonfly larvae and not a damselfly larvea, the latter being much smaller, in damselfly larvae the eyes are seperate on either side of the head whereas on dragonfly larvae they join up across the top. Damselfly larvae also have feather like anal gills.

A dragonfly nymph would have been an interesting thing to keep if you had left it, and apparently succeed well in aquaria.

 

[prankster705]

damsel fly larvae could be kept as well... and sometimes it is kept by nuts like me ... they're wonderfull imo... just not in the sense of having it with fish...

 

[thegnu]

i think you are right tommo, i've just googled and it looked more like a Damselfly nymph because it had these three appendages sticking out from its rear. but it said the Damselfly nymph is green. this whatever was creamy white in colour

 

[James Squire]

Sorry if im hijacking but...

I found this thing in my tank the other day and another one in my filter. I tried to take a photo but my camera isn't good enough...

Is this a dragonfly larvae? If so how did it get in my tank? Should I be concerned?

Cheers,

JS

 

[prankster705]

it probably go in on some plants or similar... yes, you should be concerned... it will try to make food out of your fish...

 

[thegnu]

James Squire, that is exactly the same thing as i had. i think its called a Damselfly nymph

 

[Kevstir]

i had one of those I'm my little tank about a month ago, gave me the heeby jeebies when i saw it lol , i was just about to do a water change when i saw it , i syphoned it out the tank and out the window , DIE DIE DIE YOU HORRIBLE WEE BEASTY

 

[prankster705]

^^^ that's friendly ... they're wonderfull creatures when not with other living beings... why can't people admire insects instead of hating them?

 

[LisaLQ]

We had a dragongfly larvae come in with some plants we ordered once, I'd remove it asap as their mouths are extendable and they can eat fish up to 1 and a half times the size of them

You'll have to find a pond or lake somewhere to pop it into though, but I'm not that soft, I wanted to squish it personally (but hubby took it to a neighbours pond).

Bloomin' horrible things, but they turn into beautiful creatures. Shame they're so ugly in between (says Lisa who keeps pet snails of all things...)

 

[prankster705]

they're nice creatures ... adult dragonflyes are extremly predatory as well... they're one of the most offective predators in the animal world... their wing muscles represent an enermous amount of their body and are one of the best insect fliers ever - can even hoover... larvae are extremly specialized in underwater predation as well...

 

[LisaLQ]

That's the problem LOL!

 

[prankster705]

but than again people keep mantis shrimps... I see no reason why not to keep damsel/dragon fly larvae... adults are almost impossible to keep in captivity though ... wonderfull creatures imo... but each to his/her own I suppose