Small insects on plants...

[Origami Gourami]

How do.

I've just spotted a couple of small flea type insects flitting from the surface of the water to the plants and tank sides. They are about 1mm, silvery and have two legs on each side.

Does anyone know what these are, where they've perhaps come from and most importantly, are they harmful to my fish?!

I performed a 20% WC earlier and hadn't noticed them before, but I don't know how they could have got into the water store either. Couple of new plecs went in last week, but no new plants for over a month.

Any help gratefully received!

Would a Clown Loach keep on top of them, or some other fish?

Mysterious...

PS I don't know which is the best forum for this, so if anyone has any suggestions of where this might get more replies, I'd be very grateful!

 

[kenneth_kpe]

im trying to look for the article ive read before on aquarium insects ....
try this

i cant find the specific site however hope this link helps, il try to look around the net for it though

 

[Origami Gourami]

Thanks Kenneth, that's really thoughtful. I used the link and the most likely description sounded like Oscrapods, but after a google image search they are too blobby and not 'insect-like' enough to be the culprits.

However, this morning I can't see any more of them, so it could be that my lazy discus have finally had a bit of a munch whilst awaiting breakfast!

I suspect they could have been common household bugs that got into the water store whilst it was maturing (I keep a 100L drum of water with an airstone and heater for easy WCs). The water would have been a nice, warm, undisturbed nesting ground for seven days, so it could just be a simple aphid type bug. That's what they look like anyhow (why the aphid analogy didn't occur to me last night is beyond me, but it was late!).

Thank you for your help, most appreciated - will keep you posted if I find any more!

 

[kenneth_kpe]

you know what i still cant find the page and the funny this is i found an insect in my tank too ! but its quite big around the size of a small cockroach...

i was looking around the tank earlier and saw this small insect swimming inside and it didn't look friendly so i sucked it out of the tank ... right now im researching on finding out what it is.....

 

[RENDOG]

i found in my tank today what appears to be an underwater aphid!?!?!? very scary looking thing...i have a 20 gallon heavily planted tank.