Loaches Online Forum

So here I am, minding my own business and doing my bi-weekly water change when all of a sudden that innocent piece of plant matter moves away from the siphon. I yank my hand and siphon out in shock as I realize it is an unknown and probably creepy bug crawling around with my defenseless Gastromyzon. Images of mosquitoes and unpleasant water bound insects plague my mind. I then do what any rational person would do. I freak out.
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Jk, I sat down and tried to identify the insect on my computer. Turns out it isn't that bad at all, just a baby Damselfly that probably came in on a pond plant that I got as a gift.
So now I'm trying to figure out what to do with it and that's where you lovely people come in...That, and I just found it too unusual to keep to myself. Is it ok to keep it with my Gastromyzon while I find a better home? Or should I yank it out asap?
If it came in with the plant, then it has been in the tank for several weeks without incident. It's about 1.5cm long and transparent.

I don't think I would be comfortable keeping it with fish.

If you're sure it's a damselfly and not a dragonfly, you might be ok. If you get a population of Daphnia going in there it should get enough to eat. All round though, safest just to put it in a pond somewhere. Put some pictures up if you can!

If it is with adult fish I wouldn't worry too much about the fish safety, although it may be dangerous for the damselfly larve. I keep critters like this with my fish all the time. But to be on the safe side, I would put it in a container with lots of food (like outside with mosquito larve) to give it lots to eat and let it consume your mosquitos and fly away a happy adult when it is ready.

Definitely a Damselfly. I looked up comparison pictures and there's no mistaking it. I don't have a pond personally, but I do have a semi-open top 50g out back with a pair of 2" goldfish. <-(hillstream loach algae farm) You all think that might work?

I'd take a picture of it, but it's mostly transparent and really hard to find. It took me three days to find it again the last time. If it is willing, I can snag a quick pic though.

The goldfish will eat it. Do you have a floating breeder box and some plants you could put the larve in? They are carnivorous or insectivorous, so the critter needs a little food too.