Insects in my tank

[Flying_Squirrel]

Hey all,

I'm new to these forums, but I hoped someone would be able to give me some advice on some new aquisitions in my tank.

A few weeks ago I started noticing that I was getting larvae from an unknown insect in my freshwater fish tank. Today I was cleaning it out and I found a new insect, and I have no idea what it is. I was wondering if anybody knew any sites that could help me identify the insect as I can't find anything.

I also have a few small freshwater snails that came (unintentionally) with a plant I bought several months ago and although I have been removing them when I see them there doesn't seem to be any less in my tank!

Please help,

Flying_Squirrel

 

[Opcn]

stowaway snails can be a big problem for some, the invertibrate section is the place to ask both of these questions and as I recal there is an FAQ about snail removal, you would do well to find this FAQ and read it before asking any more questions. HTH

Also, could you describe the insects? some of them eat small fish, wich can be a problem in tanks with fry.

 

[Flying_Squirrel]

stowaway snails can be a big problem for some, the invertibrate section is the place to ask both of these questions and as I recal there is an FAQ about snail removal, you would do well to find this FAQ and read it before asking any more questions. HTH

Also, could you describe the insects? some of them eat small fish, wich can be a problem in tanks with fry.

[snapback]864131[/snapback]​

They look a bit like a very sqat dragonfly larvae (and I know they eat small fish). Wheni pulled the biggest out from the tank my sister thought it was a kind of aquatic spider - it has a very fat abdomen and a relatively small head, six legs, very dark body but light almost see through legs.

How do I transfer threads across these forums? As I said earlier I am new to them and don't quite know how to do stuff yet.

Flying_Squirrel

 

[BigC]

Could it be mayfly larvae
http/www.famu.org/mayfly/images/hsulph_nym.jpg

 

[Tropjunky]

I don't thing you can transfer threads and I don't think its anything to worry about although you should keep it isolated.

Has anything new happend to the tank or anything? If you can post a picture

 

[Opcn]

Mods will transfer it for you soon I'm sure. We lowly members are unable to, just be sure to post in the right forum in the future, no harm, no foul.

A picture would be very helpful, and if you can't take one I would suggest drawing one in paint.

 

[Flying_Squirrel]

I did a google image search because I asked somerelatives of mine if i could release it in their pond and one of them suggested a dragonfly or damselfly larvae, and the only one it really looked like was this-

There are smaller ones in the tank but until I caught the big one I didn't realise.

Thanks for your help,

Flying_Squirrel

EDIT - Do these guys eat fry because I mentioned somewhere else I'm trying to breed a couple of my fish?

 

[caliskier]

Buy a few clown loaches, they love to eat snails and they are playful, but you should get at least three as they are social.

 

[colen]

I may have missed it, but I don't believe we know the size of his tank. And suggesting three clown loaches for a little snail problem is not a real wise idea. Many of us don't have a tank big enough to house even 1 clown loach, let alone 3.

These fish can get up to 12in (30cm)!.

 

[Tropjunky]

I don't advise using loaches most tanks are too small and they're vaunerable to white spots as i foundout the hard way I lost a hole tank of fishes that way

 

[RedShark]

Whats the smallest a clown loach can be healthy in?