Afternoon, So I found this ugly bug in my nano recently together with the other cope pods. It swims quite fast and has a v-shape split tail. Its been living in my one nano for two weeks so I'm sure its some form of an aquatic bug. Its +- 4mm long and a light grey see through colour. Not very easy to take a photo of this fellow. Can you perhaps ID this bug ? I do not think its a water lice.
Thanks Tracy, Yeah, according to the other forum it might be a Damsel Fly larvae, and apparently not a welcome bug in the tank to have.
it's a tad difficult id'ing the bugs sometimes - depending on instars etc - tbh, I've returned dragonfly nymphs to their environment with great care at times - they are such beautiful predators.... they each have a space in the wild
Definitely a damsel fly nymph. Very efficient predator and will eat anything it can catch. Not a welcome inhabitant in your tank. If you can, catch it and put it in a jar. Take it to a pond or stream and release it there. You will almost certainly have missing fish as it grows... Sent from my iPhone using 100% recycled words!
I'm... kind of leaning away from dragonfly or damselfly. It looks like it may have long antennae, and extensions on the abdomen. Neither are traits of the above groups in their nymphal stages. This is just me giving a massive guess... a small part of me says stonefly, but they only have two cerci on their bums. Plus I think the odds of a stonefly choosing an aquarium to breed in is a little slim... A mayfly perhaps? It would seem more like it, at least to me anyway. Family Baetidae? Any other guesses? Regards,
