insect in my tank!

**Paw Broon** · 05-18-2009, 07:39 PM

i was just looking at my cherry shrimp tank and sitting in the corner was this little beastie! i have no idea to what it is but found some pics of mayfly nymphs and it looks quite like them.

It's a little smaller than the cherry shrimp and a lot thinner and has a mint green colour to it. The only difference i can see from these pics i found is i can't see any antenna on its head and its eyes are bigger wider than in these pics.

Can't get any pics as my camera is poor quality and the little pest is so small!

Think i'm just gonna leave it in and see what happens, at least that way ill maybe find out what it is. Quite stumped as of how it might have gotten there though and i don't see any mayflys zooming about here yet.

**Northernguy** · 05-18-2009, 08:08 PM

Are there any fish in that tank to enjoy them?
Most fish will eat most any bug that finds the top of your tank.They really enjoy the larvae.
I do not know what that one is!
sorry!

**fishlover49** · 05-18-2009, 08:20 PM

I had some critters in my shrimp tank too awhile ago. I squished all I could and rinsed the hood off in scalding water. I haven't seen any since.

They sort of resembled mosquitoes, but I don't really think they were, the more I looked at them. Not sure what they were but I hope they don't come back.

**Paw Broon** · 05-18-2009, 08:51 PM

Originally Posted by Northernguy

Are there any fish in that tank to enjoy them?
Most fish will eat most any bug that finds the top of your tank.They really enjoy the larvae.
I do not know what that one is!
sorry!

Na just my cherry shrimp but there is an amano shrimp in there so if he manages to find it he may try and eat it, i could unleash the evil in me and throw him to the sharks but i am still curious as to what it's going to turn into so ill leave him......for now.

....maybe.

**Dave66** · 05-18-2009, 08:56 PM

If you have aquatic plants the egg for the nymph was probably stuck in one. Mayfly nymphs, like dragonfly nymphs, are predatory, and though it's most like too small to do damage, the can and do eat small fish, like fry.

Dave

**terrapin24h** · 05-18-2009, 08:56 PM

relocate your shrimp to a temp tank and throw some tetra or barbs in there. Your problem will be solved quickly. Oh the poor lady bugs that found their way into my tank this past fall, it was total carnage!

--chris

**Paw Broon** · 05-18-2009, 09:03 PM

Originally Posted by Dave66

If you have aquatic plants the egg for the nymph was probably stuck in one. Mayfly nymphs, like dragonfly nymphs, are predatory, and though it's most like too small to do damage, the can and do eat small fish, like fry.

Dave

yeah there is a plant i have in there and some jave moss so it must've hitchhiked its way in that way. It's smaller and thinner than my cherry shrimp and there is no fry so i'll leave it just now until it starts bugging me.

**Paw Broon** · 05-18-2009, 09:06 PM

Originally Posted by terrapin24h

relocate your shrimp to a temp tank and throw some tetra or barbs in there. Your problem will be solved quickly. Oh the poor lady bugs that found their way into my tank this past fall, it was total carnage!

--chris

I have another tank identical to the one that houses the cherry shrimp under construction for the shrimp and it's not really a problem yet as it's just the one little critter so when i rehome the shrimp if it is still there i might just do that.