Catterpiller In Plant

[talisker]

i bought a couple of vallis plants about a week ago from my lfs, they started to look like something was nibbling on them and a few bits were coming off and floating to the top, but the i spotted something moving inside one of the leaves it's like a small catterpiller about 1cm long i've since found a couple of others so i've binned the plants, any idea what they could be i tried taking a picture but they don't come out very clear.
should i be sterilising the plants first and if so what should i use.

 

[aaronnorth]

Snails??

there isn't any aquatic caterpillars as far as I know. Snails are very commonly transported on plants as they lay the eggs on them. If you dont want them then in the future check for any eggs and run your fonger along the leaves to remove them.

You may already have them in your tank by now though.

 

[talisker]

nope not snails definatly looked like some kind of catterpiller i had one out of the tank and it was was crawling along like a catterpiller does when it arches up it's back, they were burrowed into the stem of the plant.

 

[theshadowinc]

nope not snails definatly looked like some kind of catterpiller i had one out of the tank and it was was crawling along like a catterpiller does when it arches up it's back, they were burrowed into the stem of the plant.

hmm.... maybe a worm or a misquito what colour?

 

[talisker]

they were light brown with fine hairs on them i'm not to bothered now i've binned the plant now i was just curious as to what they were