Odd Dragonfly Nymph thing found in aquarium

[Darkomot]

Hello everyone,

I was doing a water change today when I noticed this insect-like thing on the bottom of the tank. I immediately scooped it up and got rid of it. I also found one exactly like it around a month ago. Does anyone know what this is, and if it's bad for the aquarium? Thanks!

FYI: This is a 10 gallon aquarium with guppies, snails, and a few ghost shrimp

 

[Essjay]

I think it's the related damselfly nymph. Remove it asap, and any others that you see. They are carnivorous predators and will kill small fish.

The photos aren't very helpful (they've got 'photobucket' stamped across them) but there some info on both dragonfly and damselfly nymphs here

Hitchhikers In Freshwater Tanks & Ponds

Freshwater ecosystems are much more diverse than our tanks can ever be, but nature certainly tries. Here's a list of things that can pop up in a tank unexpectedly. COMMON HITCHHIKERS Freshwater copepods(Cyclops) * Subclass Copepoda Danger: Harmless. How it gets in your tank: Food, Water...

www.fishforums.net

 

[andy68]

i recently set up a daphnia tank and found a nymph in there after a week ,i would assume that it came in with the live daphnia that i bought to start my stock with

 

[CassCats]

Damselfly Nymph for sure. Best remove it asap itll eat your shrimp and small fish

 

[Retired Viking]

I had one and it kill at least 6 of my shrimp before I found it and disposed of it. Nasty little killers.

 

[Darkomot]

@Retired Viking @NCaquatics @andy68 @essjay Oof, thanks for identifying it for me. I have a lot of guppy fry in the tank that I'm raising so I hope that there aren't more nymphs hiding in there.

 

[Sylvan]

Keep an eye out for more. I introduced them by accident on a plant into my shrimp tank. Caught one then a month later pulled about 10 more out over a week.