Larvae in my fish tank, what is it?

Question

I have a 2.5 gal freshwater tank, with 1 African Dwarf from, 1 Molly Guppy and 1 Albino Catfish.

Today there are about 5 larvae floating/swimming around on the top of the water. They have a black top with a silver bottom that moves to propell them around the tank. I've read other entries regarding mosquito larvae and it's usually commented that they look more like white worms on the sides or bottom of the tank.

Do I need to get these out of the tank? What are they?

Thank you!
IzzyMae

Answer 1

Sure sounds like mosquito larvae to me. Of course it could be larvae of some other insect as well. You can scoop them out or allow the fish to eat them, either way. It doesn't sound like to me that you are describing anything potentially harmful to the fish.

MM

Answer 2

Sounds like mosquito larvae to me..your fish probably ate the others. Mosquito larvae change form as they grow. Are they going to the top to breathe? They actually breathe air. (The 'white worms' on the sides or bottom of the tank are a differant, harmless critter, not mosquitos.) When they get that 'big head' look to them, they are about to turn into the little flying vampires that they are. By the way, mollies and guppies are two different fish.

Answer 3

There are a lot of potential aquatic larvae that yours might be.

the "white worms" - these are aquatic fly larvae, swim near the bottom of the tank in an thrashing "S" shaped method; some species also produce clear or red colored larvae: http://www.jonesctr.org/research/aquatics_research/graphics/chironom.jpg _ if yours are on the surface, I doubt you are seeing these

"white worm" adults - this is the adult fly (mosquito-like appearance) that might be skimming on the surface of your water while laying eggs for the larval above drawing of adult showing life cycle: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/Urban/images/midge-lc.jpg

If just under the surface and swimming downward if disturbed, these could be mosquito larvae; these are noticeably hairier than a midge (white worm) larva, have a bulge behind the head, and a breathing tube at the rear - if you use a filter or airstone, I doubt it would be these as eggs are lain in still water and larvae have trouble surface-breating in water movement: http://insectzoo.msstate.edu/Images/dip-b-1.jpg You might also be seeing mosquito eggs in what's called a "raft": http://www.wuvcd.org/mosquito/eggraft3.jpg

Some other possibilities:
whirligig beetle: http://www.hiltonpond.org/images/BeetleWhirlygig01.jpg migratory winged adult that has a dark back and carries an air bubble beneath it; swims in circles on the surface and is capable of diving

water boatman: http://www.flyfishusa.com/flies/03-water-boatman.jpg migratory winged adult, more slender than a whirligig, swims beneath the surface, dark back and light underside (again caused by a reflective air bubble), will dive if disturbed

backswimmer: http://www.insectsofalberta.com/images/2005-jul-10_commonbackswimmer2.jpg , http://www.newsday.com/media/photo/2003-10/9946832.jpg migratory winged adult that has the opposite coloration - these have a light back and dark underside and literally swim on their backs just below the surface; also capable of diving

water striders: http://www.girlstart.com/lessons/images/strider.jpg , http://www.koleopterologie.de/heteroptera/pages/familien/veliidae.jpg migratory winged adults, two families (typical is shown in first photo, a dwarf species [shorter, but broader] in the second); both used hairs on the feet to "skate" on top of the water.

If you have one of the last four, they're probably using your tank as a "stop over" in their spring movement north. You can collect them in a net or cup and release them outside. Use caution with the last three as they have biting/stinging mouthparts.

(any above whirligig, consider extra fish food; take out anything from whirligig down as these could injure small fish)

If I didn't guess right yet, perhaps you could post a photo of one as an addition to your question - I'll check back in a bit.

Answer 4

Yep, mosquito's

Let the fish eat them they cant do any harm to the fish at this stage of life.

Get some kind of circulation going in the tank and you wont get them anymore. Mosquito's will only lay there eggs in stagnate water.

Good Luck
E.

Answer 5

yes, get them out of the tank quickly

Answer 6

gross kill whatever those are if they are mosquitos then you don't want those in your home and get a filter. they may be eaten buy the frog though

Answer 7

they r larvie