I posted a while back about some weird critters I found in my husband's tropical tank here's the pic

Well no one on here could give me a positive ID (the cruddy pic doesn't help) so I took one of them and the one I spliced for the scope to an entomologist at one of our collages. She tells me it's the larvae of a diving beetle and she believes that since they aren't native to our area that they hitched a ride on some aquatic plants that my husband bought and didn't QT. Why does he never listen to me??? Anyway, She says its a good thing I killed them because in their next stage of development they would have started killing the fish. She's also glad I didn't turn them loose being as they are not something we have here naturally.

Moral of the story: When it comes to unknown pests in your tank error on the side of caution. Kill first ask questions later. And last but certainly not least DO NOT SET IT FREE!!!

wow. good thing it was only in its larve stage!

These were just tiny babies. She said it was going to get bigger and move from baby fish to big fish. I was wondering why I stopped seeing babies in a tank full of live-bearers

Creepy!! I totally agree about never setting something free, nor ever putting anything from our tanks outside. I've read so many stories about invasive species that it's disheartening. There are so many things on the "restricted" lists now that we can no longer get for our tanks.

Very creepy, and lesson well-learned. Quarantine, quarantine, quarantine........Now where have I heard that before?

That's what Sandy and I said!!

In the larvae stage they're called Water Tigers because of how fierce they are, hunting any living fish they can sink their tiny jaws into, and sucking the bodily fluids out. Again, good thing you got rid of them all.

Thanks Justin I believed you when you told me that. That's why I took it to the entomologist to confirm.

wow, good thing u killed it (I cant believe Im saying that), that would have been horrible if it would attack the fish , lesson for ur husband: listen!

LOL. I'm glad you were able to get it confirmed. Good thinking taking it to a college.

How are the rest of your little fish doin?

*sighs* I don't know one minuet they're all acting normal again and the next they're all bottom sitting. I've been monitoring their water conditions very carefully and keeping track of the meds and doses. Right now their all bottom sitting again and every one has stopped eating again. I'm gonna start pulling my hair out if something don't give soon!

Kill first, ask questions later. I like it.