What the h*** is this swimming around in my tank?

[Philbert]

I seem to have weird experiences that turn out to be not so weird when I share them here...O.K., try this...
I was doing a deep cleaning in my second oldest tank, moving the rocks with the siphon end and going for a 60% water change to really clean out the effluvieum; when emptying one of the murky buckets of water I found something I haven't seen before.
While it may not be the Loch Ness monster, it's as ugly.
Definitely insect, it's long (1"), has bug eyes, thin brown segmented body, and a 3 part fuzzy tail.
Musta been living under the rocks in the sludge, I am curious if it is known to anyone what it is and is it a danger to my fish.
I have Sailfins, Tetras, etc; nothing real big or carnivorous. I put it in a jug, and I am curious what it is.

[loopy119]

Re: What the h*** is this swimming around in my tank?

Oooo, take a pic!!!! I wanna see!! Maybe I can help figure it out! I'm pretty good at that kinda stuff!  

Rebekah

[Philbert]

Re: What the h*** is this swimming around in my tank?

I don't have a way to download digital pics; by the time I take a 35mm pic and get my disc from Wallyworld, the critter will probaly be dead.
Sorry..I hoped my verbal description would ring a bell somewheres.

[Nickintex]

Re: What the h*** is this swimming around in my tank?

Sounds like a damselfly larva.

-Nick Montemayor

[Scooby]

Re: What the h*** is this swimming around in my tank?

There is a website called whatsthatbug.com that might be of some help to you.  You can look through some of their photos and see if you find one that looks like your creature.  Too bad you can't post a picture, I'd love to see it.

[Philbert]

Re: What the h*** is this swimming around in my tank?

Thank you, Nickintex!
Exactly what it is, Googled the "damselfly larvae" and there it was...
I probably got it as a bonus from the plants I got at the HLA auction. Mystery solved.
I won't keep counting my fish to see if something is eating them, now. It's harmless to the community, as ugly as it is.

[Tiapan]

Re: What the h*** is this swimming around in my tank?

yeah and they live for a veryt long time as larva, but only as a day as an adult if i remmember correctly. good thing it isnt a dragonfly larva cus they eat everything.

[Philbert]

Re: What the h*** is this swimming around in my tank?

You may be thinking of Mayflies...Damselflies are related to Dragonflies, just smaller. Same habitat, and big damselfly larvae can eat small fry...not a good tankmate for small fish.
My visitor took the A-ride...

[AnotherWoogie]

Re: What the h*** is this swimming around in my tank?

Sounds like a similar incident from up here in Dallas :)

Check out this thread:

http://dallasfishbox.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=1849

[Philbert]

Re: What the h*** is this swimming around in my tank?

Too bad Nickintex didn't see that thread, or me now...we are now  insectually (that's hetero-insectually) educated!.