New Issue - Intruder Alert

[Webfeet]

Got the last of my plants in and in the process I noticed this big bug in the tank sitting on my driftwood. It must of come in on one of the previous plants and I didn't notice it. I am 95% sure it is a dragonfly nymph. It is about 3/4 inch long. Now I know these things are predatory and mostly feed on other insect larvae, but can attack small fish So far he hasn't found my grass shrimp. I am suppose to get 2 pair of Agassizi's next week. So, my question is, should I worry about this and try to get it out? How do I go about doing that? Or will the Agassizi's just make a nice snack out of it?

Thanks for any advice,

Marc

 

[brad]

should I worry about this and try to get it out? How do I go about doing that?
Marc

A net.:wink:

 

[Webfeet]

You missed the part about the plants? This is a community tank that is heavily planted, and is scaped with rocks and tree roots. In the wild these nymphs hide under rocks and roots. So I would have to pull the whole tank apart, find it, re-plant everything and then wait for the tank to recycle. I would rather not have to do all that.....I'm just funny that way :redface: !

 

[Mike Wise]

Once a dragonfly larva gets to full length (some are over 3"/7.5 cm!) they can catch smaller adult apistos. It will be well worth the effort to remove it. Another option is to use something like Clout that contains an organophosphate, which is an insecticide. It should kill the larvae, but I don't know what it will do to the plants.

 

[Xanathos]

I used to keep those bugs in a bucket when I was a kid, along with giant water bug ( I'm sorry, dont know the exact english word for those ). Trust me about the part where they say that dragonfly are predatory : they are. And they can eat something truly amazin.

I used to go to the pet store to buy some feeder goldfish for them. I took only the smallest of course but they didnt seem to have any trouble find them. They are fantastic creature to observe

About removing it... I would remove the plants, treat them with alun or something like that just to be sure, and try to find the nymph before putting any small fish in this tank.

Otherwise, you might become the father of a well fed future dragonfly, even if the nymph usually stay in this form for 1-2 years, depending on the species.

Phil

 

[Webfeet]

Well, I got it out!! Came home late Wednesday evening and it was sitting in some Sagitarius in the corner. Took a couple of nets, and a couple of tries, but I got him trapped and out. Didn't even uproot any of the plants. What a mean, looking thing!!! Put it in a jar on my desk for a couple of days and then dumped it in a pond. Good thing I got him too!....Got 3 pairs of Killies Saturday. Now if I can just get some agassizis! :biggrin:

 

[tjudy]

I used to keep tanks just for aquatic insects. If you ever have the chance to set up a ten and keep some you will really enjoy them. I favorite are the 'predacious diving bugs', not to be confused with a beetle. The bugs will breed in a tank and carry the eggs on their back. They will also eat anything, including pellet food.

 

[Nick S.]

I favorite are the 'predacious diving bugs', not to be confused with a beetle. The bugs will breed in a tank and carry the eggs on their back. They will also eat anything, including pellet food.

I've had a 15g for several years with just a few Zebra Danios in it that I have put giant water beetles in in the fall when they are migrating, and kept them for 2 to 3 months til they die of old age. They would come to the surface for flake food the same as the fish. One was 2" long but never caught the Zebras. They make a great conversation subject though. It is amazing how versatile the Zebras are though, I had them in an unheated tank for 2 years.