What did i just pull out of my tank?

[Alral1988]

Anybody know? Just plants and RCS in the tank.

 

[molliwopp]

Nice! Well it looks alot like a dragon or damsel fly larvae?

 

[sealife]

Wouldn't most fish eat that as a treat?

 

[dragonfisher33]

Wouldn't most fish eat that as a treat?

yes, but being a RCS planted tanks, i would worry about the other way around. it does look like a dragonfly larva or some sort btw

 

[molliwopp]

I edited my post because its a rcs tank.

But yes and no, not if they were tetra or similar sized fish, depending on how big it got, it could definitely eat tetra. Dragon fly larvae will eat tadpoles and small fish as a staple.

 

[wildroseofky]

Damsel Fly larvae. THere has been a ton of them found in tanks this summer. I found 5 in mine after adding plants. I just caught them and put them in my outdoor pond. They will eat what they can catch but most fish fry are safe from them. They are afraid of fish because the fish eat them. They eat mostly mosquito larvae and other small things.

 

[Alral1988]

I literally just put some new plants in, it must have have hitched a ride

 

[dragonfisher33]

I literally just put some new plants in, it must have have hitched a ride

where did you get the plants? from a lake? or some pond near you? cuz i havent heard a damsel larva or some sort from a pet store or lfs before

 

[Wy Renegade]

Damsel Fly larvae. THere has been a ton of them found in tanks this summer. I found 5 in mine after adding plants. I just caught them and put them in my outdoor pond. They will eat what they can catch but most fish fry are safe from them. They are afraid of fish because the fish eat them. They eat mostly mosquito larvae and other small things.

Absolutely - good eye!

 

[Fishfur]

I've had them come in on store bought plants. They do grow them outside in warm areas, like Florida, so bugs have ample chance to hitchhike despite measures taken to avoid them. I always soak plants in a bucket first, and it's surprising sometimes what I find in the bucket later on. Scuds, bug larvae and snails are just a few of many things I've run across.

 

[wildroseofky]

I keep a QT tub for my plants. I do rinse them in chlorine water but it will not kill everything. I stick them in a plastic tub with a light and filter for two weeks. Gives plenty of time for anything to hatch. Then I rinse plants again and add them to my tanks.