Dragonfly larvae in indoor tank?

[Elaine T]

I've now pulled two dragonfly larvae out of my 10 gallon guppy tank!
One a few months ago, and one this morning. I'm not pleased since I'm
trying to breed the guppies for local shows and cash. For those that
don't know, dragonfly larvae are predatory and eat small fish like young
guppies. I also think they're just plain creepy. I've never seen one
in a fishtank before - only ponds.

Does anyone know how the heck dragonfly larvae could even get into an
indoor tank? I haven't seen dragonfiles in the house and the window near
the tank is screened. I haven't added any new plants or fish to the
tank in months. Could the eggs have come in on plants and survived a 20
minute permanganate soak? Also, do dragonflies lay eggs in clutches?
If I've found two larvae, are there likely more hidden in the thick mats
of baby's tears along the back of the tank?

Finally, I know this sounds silly, but do they bite? I used a net to
fish out the one I found this morning because I wasn't sure about
touching it.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Beano]

eeek! When I think of larvae, I think small squishy worm like things.
These sound really nasty! How big are they?

Sorry I can't help answer your question.

[Gill Passman]

Elaine T wrote:
> I've now pulled two dragonfly larvae out of my 10 gallon guppy tank! One
> a few months ago, and one this morning. I'm not pleased since I'm
> trying to breed the guppies for local shows and cash. For those that
> don't know, dragonfly larvae are predatory and eat small fish like young
> guppies. I also think they're just plain creepy. I've never seen one
> in a fishtank before - only ponds.
>
> Does anyone know how the heck dragonfly larvae could even get into an
> indoor tank? I haven't seen dragonfiles in the house and the window near
> the tank is screened. I haven't added any new plants or fish to the
> tank in months. Could the eggs have come in on plants and survived a 20
> minute permanganate soak? Also, do dragonflies lay eggs in clutches? If
> I've found two larvae, are there likely more hidden in the thick mats of
> baby's tears along the back of the tank?
>
> Finally, I know this sounds silly, but do they bite? I used a net to
> fish out the one I found this morning because I wasn't sure about
> touching it.
>

According to the faqs on this site they don't bite or sting:-

http://www.dragonflysoc.org.uk/frameset.htm?home&home

I also read that they lay the eggs singly but fly past multiple times to
lay the eggs in the same area. They also spend a long time in the larvae
stage (around 6 months) so conceivably your two could have been from the
same batch and there might be more.

Seems to be some reasonable info in this faq

Gill

[Nikki Casali]

Elaine T wrote:
> I've now pulled two dragonfly larvae out of my 10 gallon guppy tank! One
> a few months ago, and one this morning. I'm not pleased since I'm
> trying to breed the guppies for local shows and cash. For those that
> don't know, dragonfly larvae are predatory and eat small fish like young
> guppies. I also think they're just plain creepy.

Goose bump creepy. You've got alien invaders!

I've never seen one
> in a fishtank before - only ponds.
>
> Does anyone know how the heck dragonfly larvae could even get into an
> indoor tank?

Yes, I'd like to know too!

I haven't seen dragonfiles in the house and the window near
> the tank is screened. I haven't added any new plants or fish to the
> tank in months.

Maybe they've been hiding from you for all that time?

Could the eggs have come in on plants and survived a 20
> minute permanganate soak? Also, do dragonflies lay eggs in clutches? If
> I've found two larvae, are there likely more hidden in the thick mats of
> baby's tears along the back of the tank?
>
> Finally, I know this sounds silly, but do they bite?

They MAY not bite, but they sure look like they could! Aren't they ugly?

I used a net to
> fish out the one I found this morning because I wasn't sure about
> touching it.

They can't be caught using bare hands. Maybe a jar if you're lucky. They
move fast. Squiggle .... squiggle ..... squiggle.

Nikki

[me myself and the rest of us]

"Gill Passman" > wrote in message
.. .
> Elaine T wrote:

[snip]

>
> According to the faqs on this site they don't bite or sting:-
>
> http://www.dragonflysoc.org.uk/frameset.htm?home&home
>
> I also read that they lay the eggs singly but fly past multiple times to
> lay the eggs in the same area. They also spend a long time in the larvae
> stage (around 6 months) so conceivably your two could have been from the
> same batch and there might be more.
>
> Seems to be some reasonable info in this faq
>
> Gill

Gill: No they don't bite or sting as adults, but the larvae (nymphs) do
have mighty pinchers and according to that same site:
http://www.dragonflysoc.org.uk/faq.htm#feeding

"The larvae, which live in water, eat almost anything living that is smaller
than themselves. The larger dragonfly larvae are known to catch and eat
small fish or fry. Usually they eat bloodworms or other aquatic insect
larvae."

Elaine: Have you introduced any new plants or driftwood to the tank
recently? if so, that may be your source if the eggs were on whatever it
was.

[Elaine T]

Beano wrote:
> eeek! When I think of larvae, I think small squishy worm like things.
> These sound really nasty! How big are they?
>
> Sorry I can't help answer your question.
>
It was about 3/4 of an inch long and looked like the lower left picture
here.

http://www.weeksbay.org/newsletter/Sum_2003/Pg8_1.htm

Not what I wanted to see lurking in my tank. I think I know why my
bumblebee shrimp are gone with no remains. :-(

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Elaine T]

Nikki Casali wrote:
> Elaine T wrote:
>
>> I've now pulled two dragonfly larvae out of my 10 gallon guppy tank!
>> One a few months ago, and one this morning. I'm not pleased since I'm
>> trying to breed the guppies for local shows and cash. For those that
>> don't know, dragonfly larvae are predatory and eat small fish like
>> young guppies. I also think they're just plain creepy.
>
>
> Goose bump creepy. You've got alien invaders!
>
> I've never seen one
>
>> in a fishtank before - only ponds.
>>
>> Does anyone know how the heck dragonfly larvae could even get into an
>> indoor tank?
>
>
> Yes, I'd like to know too!
>
> I haven't seen dragonfiles in the house and the window near
>
>> the tank is screened. I haven't added any new plants or fish to the
>> tank in months.
>
>
> Maybe they've been hiding from you for all that time?
>
> Could the eggs have come in on plants and survived a 20
>
>> minute permanganate soak? Also, do dragonflies lay eggs in clutches?
>> If I've found two larvae, are there likely more hidden in the thick
>> mats of baby's tears along the back of the tank?
>>
>> Finally, I know this sounds silly, but do they bite?
>
>
> They MAY not bite, but they sure look like they could! Aren't they ugly?
>
> I used a net to
>
>> fish out the one I found this morning because I wasn't sure about
>> touching it.
>
>
> They can't be caught using bare hands. Maybe a jar if you're lucky. They
> move fast. Squiggle .... squiggle ..... squiggle.
>
> Nikki
>

Glad to hear I'm not the only one who thinks they're creepy. I got the
last one in a net. No way was I touching that ugly little beast. The
only problem was getting the tame, hungry guppies back OUT of the net. LOL.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Elaine T]

me myself and the rest of us wrote:
> "Gill Passman" > wrote in message
> .. .
>
>>Elaine T wrote:
>
>
> [snip]
>
>
>>According to the faqs on this site they don't bite or sting:-
>>
>>http://www.dragonflysoc.org.uk/frameset.htm?home&home
>>
>>I also read that they lay the eggs singly but fly past multiple times to
>>lay the eggs in the same area. They also spend a long time in the larvae
>>stage (around 6 months) so conceivably your two could have been from the
>>same batch and there might be more.
>>
>>Seems to be some reasonable info in this faq
>>
>>Gill
>
>
> Gill: No they don't bite or sting as adults, but the larvae (nymphs) do
> have mighty pinchers and according to that same site:
> http://www.dragonflysoc.org.uk/faq.htm#feeding
>
> "The larvae, which live in water, eat almost anything living that is smaller
> than themselves. The larger dragonfly larvae are known to catch and eat
> small fish or fry. Usually they eat bloodworms or other aquatic insect
> larvae."
>
> Elaine: Have you introduced any new plants or driftwood to the tank
> recently? if so, that may be your source if the eggs were on whatever it
> was.
>
>
Nope. I haven't introduced anything for months. I always soak new
plants in potassium permanganate anyway.

I'm thinking they must have come in with live food. I feed frozen
bloodworms, glassworms, baby brine shrimp, daphnia and cyclops, daphnia
from a jar, and occasionally live brine shrimp. I was feeding live
blackworms a while ago, so that could be a source, but I stopped at
least two months ago when I got some picky fish weaned to frozen food.
I was rinsing the blackworms for at least three days before I used them,
and there are no larvae (touch wood) in the other tanks that got many
more blackworms than the guppy tank. If the eggs survive freezing, it
may be the cyclops, because I've only really fed those to the guppies.

Sheesh. I wish I knew for sure...

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Beano]

oh my god they are hideous!!! Gets my heart pounding just looking at a
picture - at least you know your water quality must be excellent, since
that article says they live in the best quality water.

[Kay]

I have had a few in the past years, for me they always showed up after
feeding a certain brand (don't want to get sued) of frozen blood worms,
since I have switched to hikari and my fish club frozen blood worms,
they have stopped showing up.

Kay

[Elaine T]

Kay wrote:
> I have had a few in the past years, for me they always showed up after
> feeding a certain brand (don't want to get sued) of frozen blood worms,
> since I have switched to hikari and my fish club frozen blood worms,
> they have stopped showing up.
>
> Kay

So they CAN come from frozen foods. That is very helpful to know. My
daphnia and bloodworms are Hikari, but the cyclops and glassworms are
different brands. I'll stop feeding those and see what happens.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Kay]

Elaine T wrote:
> Kay wrote:
>
>> I have had a few in the past years, for me they always showed up after
>> feeding a certain brand (don't want to get sued) of frozen blood
>> worms, since I have switched to hikari and my fish club frozen blood
>> worms, they have stopped showing up.
>>
>> Kay
>
>
> So they CAN come from frozen foods. That is very helpful to know. My
> daphnia and bloodworms are Hikari, but the cyclops and glassworms are
> different brands. I'll stop feeding those and see what happens.
>
Thats all I was feeding at the time frozen and they came. Hopefully it
will solve your problem.

Kay

[Dr Engelbert Buxbaum]

Elaine T wrote:

> I've now pulled two dragonfly larvae out of my 10 gallon guppy tank!
> One a few months ago, and one this morning.

Congratulations! Put them into a small tank (can be unheated) with some
plants in it, they make a very fascinating study object.

> Finally, I know this sounds silly, but do they bite?

Yes, they do - anything that is smaller than them ;-)