Is this bug harmfull for fishes?

Kostas · Post by **Kostas** » 04 Sep 2003, 09:02

Hi,
Yesterday i found a bug in my aquarium,sitting on an echinodorus plant.He has six legs,pale green color,short head with eyes on its sides,long body and at the end of his body two long straight thing forming a fork.I found it in my Leporacanthicus tank.
Is that harmful for my fishes?I have never seen it before.

Thank you in advance

Post by **Silurus** » 04 Sep 2003, 10:26

Sounds like a dragonfly/damselfly nymph. Not harmful to your fishes, unless you have very small ones or fry in there (then they'll get eaten).

FatCat · Post by **FatCat** » 04 Sep 2003, 20:00

Good call silurus! perfect description of a damselfly nymph. Most likely not a dragonfly nymph though. I agree that this will do no harm to fish as long as there not small tetras or guppies. Im kind of curious how this creature got imported into your tank unless you have Damselflys flying around your house. Did you recently import uncleaned rocks wood or other creatures from the wild. If so I would be concerned with the things that you cant see.

S. Allen · Post by **S. Allen** » 04 Sep 2003, 23:54

I get odd half inch green flying insects in my tank... attracted by the metal halide lighting. but never larvae

Kostas · Post by **Kostas** » 05 Sep 2003, 09:15

Hi,
Thanks a lot HH

Its a dragon fly nymph(it really looks like a dragonfly without wings.)
Fortunately i dont have small fishes in the tank,actually the only fishes in the tank are tree 3.5'' Leporacanthicus.
How long will take the nymph to mature and fly away from the aquarium,unfortunately into my house?

Im kind of curious how this creature got imported into your tank unless you have Damselflys flying around your house.

No,there is no damsel or dragon fly into my house.This nymph got imported into my tank in the form of eggs,probably by the real plants i added in the aquarium.

Post by **Silurus** » 05 Sep 2003, 09:41

How long will take the nymph to mature and fly away from the aquarium,unfortunately into my house?

Several weeks, I reckon. Unfortunately, given that there appears to be no ready food source for it (dragonfly nymphs are predatory and feed on small fishes and smaller aquatic insects), it's more likely to die before metamorphosis (it'll also need something to climb out of the water for this anyway).

Kostas · Post by **Kostas** » 05 Sep 2003, 09:52

Hi,
He has a lot of food availiable because i feed my Leporacanthicus bloodworms every other day.Currently the Dragonfly is about 1-2cm which means that all this time he was feeding on something.As for climbing out of the water he has my cabombas flowers and the covered with algae filter inlet.

Post by **Silurus** » 05 Sep 2003, 10:48

Oops, looks like I was wrong with the several-week estimate. Dragonflies can spend anywhere from 1-6 years as a nymph.
Looks like it's going to be in your tank for awhile.

S. Allen · Post by **S. Allen** » 05 Sep 2003, 23:01

haha, my guess is something else will find it before it changes... hell, I'll notice a moth in the tank before I go to work and not have time to pull it out, by the time I'm home again something's eaten it.

Kostas · Post by **Kostas** » 08 Sep 2003, 10:00

Hi,
Thank you all for the replys

But i want to ask you something more.
Will my Leporacanthicus eat it?

Thank you in advance

Post by **Silurus** » 08 Sep 2003, 10:16

While dragonfly nymphs make great catfish snacks, I doubt that the Leporacanthicus will eat it.

Kostas · Post by **Kostas** » 08 Sep 2003, 10:31

Hi,
Thanks a lot for your reply

Is it safe to add a baby 2'' Stourisomaticthys at the end of this month?
I guess not

Thank you in advance

Post by **Silurus** » 08 Sep 2003, 10:36

I wouldn't risk it, although I think it might actually be safe to do so. Still, it's good to err on the side of caution.

Kostas · Post by **Kostas** » 08 Sep 2003, 10:51

Hi,
Thanks for the reply

I agree with you.Its not good to risk the life of any fish.
But i want to ask you one more question.
How can i get rid of it?

Thank you in advance.

Post by **Silurus** » 08 Sep 2003, 12:18

The best (and simplest) way is to remove it physically.

S. Allen · Post by **S. Allen** » 08 Sep 2003, 16:23

;) a paper towel and a visit to the toilet would be my choice, I suppose you could get a big fish that'd eat it, but just easiest to flush it.

Kostas · Post by **Kostas** » 09 Sep 2003, 10:11

Hi,
Thanks a lot for your replys

Its not as easy to do it as it is to say it.I have a lot of plants in my tank in which the nymph can hide in.Also i have a week now to see it so i dont even know if its still alive or not.
Is there any other way to get rid of it?

Thank you in advance

Post by **Silurus** » 09 Sep 2003, 12:34

Remove all the fish in your tank and use an invertebrate-specific medication (diflubenzuron, used for treating anchor worms, comes to mind). Of course, it will probably kill all other invertebrates in your tank (if you have any).
In my opinion, this method is akin to using a sledghammer to crack an egg. You're better off waiting for the nymph to show itself and scooping it out.

Kostas · Post by **Kostas** » 10 Sep 2003, 10:09

Hi,
Thanks a lot Silurus

Better wait a year for the nymph to come out than using chemicals.