Underwater caterpillar - video

tinkerpuppet · 10-21-2012, 08:46 PM

Today I found this creature in my 10g. I just filled it two weeks ago with new plants from my LFS. I've pulled it out and have it in a little dish of water. Not sure what to do with it. From searching, I think its best to dispose of it, but apart from a few pictures, I didn't see anything exactly looking the same. I took a video, one thing that crossed my mind as a very small possibility is that its a molted amano shrimp without a shell. Very strange whatever it is!

http://youtu.be/MEt-kw3JkIw

AquariumNoob · 10-21-2012, 08:50 PM

WOW! That literally looks like an underwater caterpillar :O. Looks nothing like a shrimp.. haha

ua hua · 10-21-2012, 08:56 PM

It's definitely a caterpillar and not an Amano shrimp. However I have no clue what kind it is. I know there is a caterpillar from Hawaii that can live under water for several weeks and scientists still aren't sure how. Either way I don't think I would put it back in the tank as most caterpillars eat leaves and the ones that they found living underwater were eating on snails. Very strange indeed.

**Geniusdudekiran** · 10-21-2012, 09:53 PM

No idea what that is. Caterpillars are pre-metamorphosized butterflies though, so I doubt that's what this is...

**Soothing Shrimp** · 10-21-2012, 10:13 PM

caddisfly larvae from what I can find. Feeds on algae and plants. The matured fly looks kinda pretty in some specimens. There's close to 400 different kinds in existence from what I gather.

"After spending six to 10 months in the larval stage, caddisflies form cocoons. Once transformed into a pupa, the insect cuts its way out of the case;if it built one;and makes its way to the surface of the water, where it breaks out of its pupal exoskeleton and emerges as a winged adult."

**rainbuilder** · 10-22-2012, 12:22 AM

It just looks like a caterpillar that found its way into your aquarium to me...

ValMM · 10-22-2012, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soothing Shrimp

caddisfly larvae from what I can find. Feeds on algae and plants. The matured fly looks kinda pretty in some specimens. There's close to 400 different kinds in existence from what I gather.

"After spending six to 10 months in the larval stage, caddisflies form cocoons. Once transformed into a pupa, the insect cuts its way out of the case;if it built one;and makes its way to the surface of the water, where it breaks out of its pupal exoskeleton and emerges as a winged adult."

+1 Caddisfly larvae make a tube out of what they can find, to protect itself until it can metamorphose.

lochaber · 10-22-2012, 01:53 AM

another +1 on the caddisfly

before I even looked at the video, caddisfly larva was what came to mind. plus, the way it had that 'tube' of ...leaves? behind it, and how all it's legs were right up at the front.

I don't think they tend to be predatory, but it's been a while since I've read/studied anything to do with insects or aquatic ecosystems, so...

might be interesting to put it in the tank and see how it works out, as long as it's not doing too much damage.

I'd also keep an eye out for other potential hitchhikers, especially things like dragonfly larvae.

tinkerpuppet · 10-22-2012, 02:31 AM

Thank you all! That's really interesting, and definitely looks like what I have.

10-21-2012, 08:46 PM	#1
tinkerpuppet Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Calgary. AB, Canada Posts: 325	Underwater caterpillar - video Today I found this creature in my 10g. I just filled it two weeks ago with new plants from my LFS. I've pulled it out and have it in a little dish of water. Not sure what to do with it. From searching, I think its best to dispose of it, but apart from a few pictures, I didn't see anything exactly looking the same. I took a video, one thing that crossed my mind as a very small possibility is that its a molted amano shrimp without a shell. Very strange whatever it is! http://youtu.be/MEt-kw3JkIw Last edited by tinkerpuppet; 10-21-2012 at 10:00 PM.. Reason: video

10-21-2012, 08:50 PM	#2
AquariumNoob Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: East Brunswick, NJ Posts: 779	WOW! That literally looks like an underwater caterpillar :O. Looks nothing like a shrimp.. haha __________________ AquariumNoob's 75G Tank!! My Two 20L Shrimp Tanks! Eheim Pimp # 434 One 75G Powered by Two 2217's, two 20L Shrimp Tanks, and a 10G QT Tank!

10-21-2012, 08:56 PM	#3
ua hua Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (34/100%) Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Nebraska Posts: 1,172	It's definitely a caterpillar and not an Amano shrimp. However I have no clue what kind it is. I know there is a caterpillar from Hawaii that can live under water for several weeks and scientists still aren't sure how. Either way I don't think I would put it back in the tank as most caterpillars eat leaves and the ones that they found living underwater were eating on snails. Very strange indeed. __________________ All matter is merely energy condensed to a slow vibration, we are all one consciousness experimenting ourselves subjectively, there is no such thing as death, life is only a dream in which is an imagination of ourselves. Bill Hicks ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My 90 gal. http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...as-90-gal.html My water garden http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/po...er-garden.html

10-21-2012, 09:53 PM	#4
Geniusdudekiran Prodigious Plant Pundit (View User Tanks) PTrader: (43/98%) Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 5,349	No idea what that is. Caterpillars are pre-metamorphosized butterflies though, so I doubt that's what this is... __________________ "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." -- Steve Jobs ADA Mini S "Treeless Mountain" Do!Aqua 20-C: Wabi Kusa

10-21-2012, 10:13 PM	#5
Soothing Shrimp Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (74/100%) Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Illinois Posts: 3,526	caddisfly larvae from what I can find. Feeds on algae and plants. The matured fly looks kinda pretty in some specimens. There's close to 400 different kinds in existence from what I gather. "After spending six to 10 months in the larval stage, caddisflies form cocoons. Once transformed into a pupa, the insect cuts its way out of the case;if it built one;and makes its way to the surface of the water, where it breaks out of its pupal exoskeleton and emerges as a winged adult." __________________ DBP Club! My thinking has been invert-ed!

10-22-2012, 12:22 AM	#6
rainbuilder Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (28/100%) Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 795	It just looks like a caterpillar that found its way into your aquarium to me... __________________ RAOK Club #38 Fraternity of Dirt #91 45 gallon hexagon 'Smooth Hillside'

10-22-2012, 01:53 AM	#8
lochaber Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Oakland, CA Posts: 738	another +1 on the caddisfly before I even looked at the video, caddisfly larva was what came to mind. plus, the way it had that 'tube' of ...leaves? behind it, and how all it's legs were right up at the front. I don't think they tend to be predatory, but it's been a while since I've read/studied anything to do with insects or aquatic ecosystems, so... might be interesting to put it in the tank and see how it works out, as long as it's not doing too much damage. I'd also keep an eye out for other potential hitchhikers, especially things like dragonfly larvae.

10-22-2012, 02:31 AM	#9
tinkerpuppet Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Calgary. AB, Canada Posts: 325	Thank you all! That's really interesting, and definitely looks like what I have. __________________ Tinkerpuppets 10gal Do-over Tinkerpuppets low tech 29g

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