Strange Bug In My Aquarium?!

[united natures]

OK, so I had this 10 gal aquarium for a long, long time. It is currently heavily planted with lots of guppies and fry. Also, it has been completely sealed with one of those aquarium hoods. I looked in today, and there was this strange insect-like creature sitting on one of my plants. I have no idea how it got there. It looks like a ghost shrimp with a large abdomen and spikes around it. Here are the best pictures I can get using my bad camera skills...

To me, it looks like a dragonfly larval but I can't fathom how a dragonfly could have possibly got into my aquarium...

 

[Spishkey]

i too have strange bugs in my fry tank. they are long green stick like bodies, six legs and a tail which has three 'prongs' to it like a trident.
any ideas?

 

[invader]

It looks like a dragonfly larvae to me. I've heard that the eggs can stick to your plants before you buy them, bringing them to you. I would get it out of there asap, as it can and will hunt fish.

As for Spishkey, I have no idea!

 

[raptorrex]

It looks like a dragonfly larvae to me. I've heard that the eggs can stick to your plants before you buy them, bringing them to you. I would get it out of there asap, as it can and will hunt fish.

As for Spishkey, I have no idea!

agreed!

 

[england]

not sure but looks like a dragonfly lav or the other one, cant remember its name very similar to dragonflys, looks great,very odd looking, but as stated take it out, get a little tank and see what happens with it, cool

 

[jourdy288]

Yeah, that's a dragon/damselfly, they may attack the guppy fry, I'd give it a special tank. You could feed it surplus fry and various insects.

 

[england]

Yeah, that's a dragon/damselfly, they may attack the guppy fry, I'd give it a special tank. You could feed it surplus fry and various insects.

damselfly thats what i was trying to think,,,,,durr me and my blonde moments,,,

 

[jourdy288]

Yeah, that's a dragon/damselfly, they may attack the guppy fry, I'd give it a special tank. You could feed it surplus fry and various insects.

damselfly thats what i was trying to think,,,,,durr me and my blonde moments,,,

Well, I volunteer for a stream team, gotta know me critters!

 

[united natures]

Thanks everyone! Now I can relax knowing it's not some mutated abomination from the depths of my aquarium

How should i remove it? I don't have a net or anything. Is it safe to remove it by hand? eek...

 

[Million]

Thanks everyone! Now I can relax knowing it's not some mutated abomination from the depths of my aquarium

How should i remove it? I don't have a net or anything. Is it safe to remove it by hand? eek...

You don't have a net?

 

[united natures]

ya, to be honest, I don't have a net lol

Come to think of it, I have a fully setup 75 gal and 10 gal aquarium yet I don't have a net! Maybe it's just my luck that I never had a fish die in my tank (unless I get something to eat it). I'm not exaggerating, all my fish have survived through the cycling process somehow...I just never needed to scoop up dead stuff in my tanks....

 

[Million]

Well, that's really good, however I would recommend you get one, as you will need one eventually

 

[jourdy288]

ya, to be honest, I don't have a net lol

Come to think of it, I have a fully setup 75 gal and 10 gal aquarium yet I don't have a net! Maybe it's just my luck that I never had a fish die in my tank (unless I get something to eat it). I'm not exaggerating, all my fish have survived through the cycling process somehow...I just never needed to scoop up dead stuff in my tanks....

Depending on what you have in the 75 you could probably move it there.

 

[united natures]

I have red-eared sliders in there lol. The bug will just get munched up.



dang it, I can't seem to find the bug now

 

[jourdy288]

It'll probably turn up someday. Anyhow, maybe you could set up a two or three gallon tank, feed it and grow it up, just be sure you have plants growing out of the water. Keep an eye out for it.