How does the underside look? How does it move?
Help identifying this hitchhiking critter!
I am setting up a new 5 gallon shrimp tank and purchased some java moss from an Amazon vendor. While examining the moss prior to a 1:20 bleach dip I found this "worm", larva. It was about 1/2 inch, 1.27cm in length. Can anyone identify it for me? ....I placed him in the bleach dip for 5 minutes and it did not kill him!
Thanks, Pete
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Thanks, Pete
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Thanks for reply Tim. To be honest I did not turn it over. While these pics are not clear I think it had leg appendages on its sides and moved in a crawling sliding motion. All past tense because after he survived a 5 minute bleach I dispatched him with very hot water...How does the underside look? How does it move?
It looks like a maggot but legs mean It’s not a maggot. Probably some kind of isopod-like mud critter. You never know as some things are beneficial (like bladder snails eat dead foliage and algae and clean my tank) while other things are destructive. I wouldn’t want some root eating critter for example as that would destroy my tanks. So far I’ve been very happy with my hitchhikers. My favorite hitchhikers so far are ostrocods (seed shrimp). They are excellent microfauna algae cleaners and I find them cute too. I have even started a separate culture aquarium jar to keep them safe and reproducing.Thanks for reply Tim. To be honest I did not turn it over. While these pics are not clear I think it had leg appendages on its sides and moved in a crawling sliding motion. All past tense because after he survived a 5 minute bleach I dispatched him with very hot water...
Thanks for the info Fern, I appreciate it. Nah, that bugger scared me when I found him haha, I am too knew to this to introduce something darn near the size of the baby red cherry shrimp I hope to add in a month or so.It looks like a maggot but legs mean It’s not a maggot. Probably some kind of isopod-like mud critter. You never know as some things are beneficial (like bladder snails eat dead foliage and algae and clean my tank) while other things are destructive. I wouldn’t want some root eating critter for example as that would destroy my tanks. So far I’ve been very happy with my hitchhikers. My favorite hitchhikers so far are ostrocods (seed shrimp). They are excellent microfauna algae cleaners and I find them cute too. I have even started a separate culture aquarium jar to keep them safe and reproducing.
Thanks Piney Pete
FernKing I think you are spot on with an isopod. When I first saw him yesterday he looked like a pointy pill bug with a segmented looking body. I starting searching isopods and many have that segmented body shape. Thanks!!It looks like a maggot but legs mean It’s not a maggot. Probably some kind of isopod-like mud critter. You never know as some things are beneficial (like bladder snails eat dead foliage and algae and clean my tank) while other things are destructive. I wouldn’t want some root eating critter for example as that would destroy my tanks. So far I’ve been very happy with my hitchhikers. My favorite hitchhikers so far are ostrocods (seed shrimp). They are excellent microfauna algae cleaners and I find them cute too. I have even started a separate culture aquarium jar to keep them safe and reproducing.
I am setting up a new 5 gallon shrimp tank and purchased some java moss from an Amazon vendor. While examining the moss prior to a 1:20 bleach dip I found this "worm", larva. It was about 1/2 inch, 1.27cm in length. Can anyone identify it for me? ....I placed him in the bleach dip for 5 minutes and it did not kill him!
Thanks, Pete
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Looks like the start of a dragonfly. They start off in water. I used to find them in bodies of water while swimming as a child..I am setting up a new 5 gallon shrimp tank and purchased some java moss from an Amazon vendor. While examining the moss prior to a 1:20 bleach dip I found this "worm", larva. It was about 1/2 inch, 1.27cm in length. Can anyone identify it for me? ....I placed him in the bleach dip for 5 minutes and it did not kill him!
Thanks, Pete
View attachment 76948
View attachment 76950
View attachment 76949
Thanks for the help maryjo! I looked and a dragonfly has larger more pronounced legs than the one in my aquarium. The shipment was from California and I assume could very possibly be sourced from Asia.Looks like the start of a dragonfly. They start off in water. I used to find them in bodies of water while swimming as a child..
Pete
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