Bit of a random one, but recently bought a tropical freshwater fish tank and seem to have some sort of bug growing in it. Assume its come in with one of the plants we have put in there. Anyhow, its about 20mm long, got 6 legs, and is clear with stripes on its legs and down its back. Will try and post a pic if that'll help, but anyone any idea what it is or if its harmfull to the fish?

 

Cool!!!!

I used to keep tropical fish and never saw anything like that!!

Get pics up asap!!!

 

Has it got a head a bit like a praying mantis ??

 

Get a pic tosh. I have always had tropical fish but never heared of anything like that

 

Definately need a piccy of this!

 

Yep does have a bit of a Mantis head, and funny looking eyes. Here's a couple of pics, sorry about the crap quality taken from my phone.

 

How big is it?!

 

Very weird! Never seen anything like that before!

 

I'd get rid asap usually things like that spell disaster!

 

that is a amazing,, never seen anything like that either must of been some larvae in amongst the weeds. I gotta know what it is

 

kill it

 

Ive got a couple of tanks with tropical fish, never seen anything like that, but ive only had my tanks just under a year, so im a novice. spoke to a mate who has had tropical fish for years, he hasnt seen your pics but said they could be Daphnia or Springtails, but said without seeing the pics, he couldnt say for sure.

 

It's neither of those.. ...... very strange!

Never seen one in 20+ years of fishkeeping..!

 

Don't really want to kill it as don't know what it is and looks quite cool! On saying that won't be best impressed if I get up one morning and its eaten all the fish and the cat..

 

That is WEIRD!

I kept fish for years and never saw anything like that!

Ive even asked a fish shop owner and he hasnt got a clue either!

Best bet is to take it out, put it in a glass or something with a couple of pebbles and a bit of live plant until you find out if its dangerous or not!

 

Looks like a Dragon Fly lava to me and they eat fish so might wanna put it in a sererate tank or get rid. We had lots of weird and wonderfull looking lava come into the shop I worked at. Nothining that looked identical to that but they looked very similar in shape and colour.

 

It could be an alien thats been sent down to multiply and take over the world. Put it in a bucket for a while......with a lid on it and keep a big piece of wood next to your bed at night , just in case!

 

ive had fish for a few years now and never seen anything like that either... to be honest i'd get it out of my tank asap just incase, its ugly as buggery too

 

Nope., not seen anything like that!

 

Yes that looks like the beast I had, But mine was about 4" long not really I think the one we had wasn't as big as that but defo looked the same, "But I killed it"

Oops I shouldn't of said that, here come all the Hate letters from all the SAVE THE MIDGES activists party.

 

that is a water tiger larvea and will eat fish in larvea stage google water tiger for more info

 

ive never seen anything like this before. how wierd and lol at s1rst

 

What I'd do if the bastard was in my tank. I wouldn't risk my fish or the aquarium health for something that I couldn't identify.