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backswimmers (insect)


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#1 Guest_Zephead4747_*

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Posted 28 April 2007 - 12:44 PM

Can I put a bunch of these in my 40 gallon sunfish aquarium? I think it'd be cool watching the sunfish interact/eat normal prey from where they were collected.


Are they toxic or are there reasons why I should not inculde them as feeders along with ghost shrimp feeders?

#2 Guest_critterguy_*

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Posted 28 April 2007 - 04:04 PM

Sounds fine to me, but if they are true backswimmers watch your fingers when you catch them! The "bite" is painful.

#3 Guest_teleost_*

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Posted 28 April 2007 - 04:31 PM

Sounds fine to me, but if they are true backswimmers watch your fingers when you catch them! The "bite" is painful.


Sorry for the derail but very early this spring while sampling an area, I was stung by what I assumed to be a madtom. I was rather excited since I'd never found any madoms in the area. I never found any madtoms in my nets and continued to get stung. The sting didn't last very long and wasn't as painful as a madtom. I guess I'm a slow learner and later realized the little bugs that resembled the shape of a harlequin bug and were colored yellow white and black on their undersides were not only stinging me but also would sting the fishes in my net. I guess I just told this whole story to warn you that what stings you might also sting/bite fish.

#4 Guest_Zephead4747_*

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Posted 28 April 2007 - 06:36 PM

So they aren't good feeders/temporary tankmates?

#5 Guest_teleost_*

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Posted 28 April 2007 - 07:32 PM

So they aren't good feeders/temporary tankmates?


I didn't say that. I only said what bit/stung me also bit/stung the fish in my net. nothing more, nothing less. You'll have to decide if they're right for your tank.

#6 Guest_Zephead4747_*

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Posted 29 April 2007 - 04:04 PM

I think I'll stick too ghost shrimp but if I come across a few of these guys I might add them in the spur of the moment. I really don't know.

#7 Guest_killier_*

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Posted 29 April 2007 - 04:24 PM

I have a few of them in my 55 I like them because they add that natural state of mind and fish dont bother them I guess they know they bite.

#8 Guest_Zephead4747_*

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Posted 29 April 2007 - 06:23 PM

Honestly I'm still debating :o . I kept them in a jar once when I was younger. They are pretty neat actually.

#9 Guest_sandtiger_*

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Posted 29 April 2007 - 07:41 PM

Teleost is right, they bite. If you want to clean a tank with biting insects that's your choice. Larger fish will eat them but the insects themselves will eat small fish, if you're going to have small fish then I would not add them.

#10 Guest_Zephead4747_*

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Posted 30 April 2007 - 03:45 PM

Maybe if I ever get stung by one I'll get revenge by throwing their brethren in a green sunfish tank. Otherwise I think I'll leave them in their pond.




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