What the flaming heck are these things..

[SirMinion]

After lights out, we noticed two of these in Martha's tank. One was crawling on the inside of the glass just below the waterline, the other had wrapped a piece of leaf into a tube and was busy sealing it with silk.

They're about an inch long (just over 2cm), hairy and white. They move like a catapillar.

We took them out and now they're in a glass of water. but what the heck are they?

 

[Wisperian]

No clue........ could they be a parasite or like a type of live food of somekind Hope Martha's alrite

 

[SirMinion]

No clue........ could they be... a type of live food of somekind

Nothing that we've given her!

I wondered about them being a parasite too, but there's none on Martha and they're an inch long so they'd be easy to spot.

 

[Teelie]

Not sure what that is. Most likely the larvae of some sort of insect though what I don't know. Dragonflies, water beetles, mosquitoes, lots of other possibilities.

 

[Wisperian]

No clue........ could they be... a type of live food of somekind

Nothing that we've given her!

I wondered about them being a parasite but there's none on Martha and they're an inch long so they'd be easy to spot.

It sounds like you think I'm stupid or something I suggest that you check in her tank again to see if you can find more

 

[SirMinion]

It sounds like you think I'm stupid or something I suggest that you check in her tank again to see if you can find more

No no! I didn't mean to imply that! If I did then I'm sorry.

 

[SarahBravo]

Eeeek.....hope Martha wasn't freaked! Been looking for you, so far found:

no. 1 - see Moths

no. 2 - see Aquatic Moths

Sorry, can't find any photos, but from the description and the fact that they're producing silk, I think that they have to be aquatic moth caterpillars. Quite a few hairy caterpillars can produce irritation to humans, so I would dispose of carefully (flush?). Possibly came in with live food or new plants?

to Martha

Sarah

PS they only eat leaves so shouldn't have nibbled Martha at all!

 

[SirMinion]

Thanks Sarah. Yep it seems that they're caterpillars of some sort of aquatic moth. Harmless to Martha. Phew!

They must have come in like you suggested, with some live food (jumbo bloodworm) or as eggs on plants.

Panic over.

Thanks for your concern Sarah & Wisperian!

 

[Sorrell]

Could they have maybe come in with some of Martha's food? Just a possibility...

My dad's an entomologist, so I can email him that picture tomorrow and see what he says

 

[Arashi]

Yeesh, thats kinda creepy looking. Hope Martha's ok, and that there aren't any more of those things in her tank.

I'm thinking it's gotta be the food or it rode in on a live plant or something. But lets hope they are all gone now.

 

[SirMinion]

My dad's an entomologist, so I can email him that picture tomorrow and see what he says

Wow Sorrell, that's incredibly nice of you.

I was considering trying to find some sort of bug forum and asking on there, but if your Dad's an entomologist, that's perfect!

Remember to tell him that we're in England!

Thank you!
_____________

Arashi - yeah. here's hoping. Thanks for your concern.

 

[canarsie11]

How crazy is that?