Brown Cocoons?

[Jeana Morgan]

For the past week I have been finding these brown cocoons in my tank (size of a rice grain).They’ve been in the same spots, I go and remove them the next day they’re right back exactly from where I remove them from. They’re about the size of a grain of rice they don’t move they only float they do not sink at all my fish won’t eat them I have no idea what they are I have researched absolutely everything from maggots, flies, roaches mouse droppings, and gnats. I have crawled around the entire tank with the flashlight and I can’t even find a crumb of dirt. I cannot find the source where they’re coming from and everybody I ask has no idea/ has never seen them. They are only under my HOB (between the glass and the filter) and around the heater. I have tried to dissect to figure out what’s inside but when I go to open a little cocoon only brown little puff of whatever it is comes out.

10 gal tank, 9m old, HOB, heater, powerhead, weekly WC. I have about eight margarita snails, two turbo snails, target Mandarin a dimond goby, clown fish, three bumblebee snails, one narcissus snail, Zoa’s (variety), BTA, Mushrooms (variety), GSP, hammers, torch, blasto and Xenia.

 

[sfin52]

Snail poop is what I’m thinking.

 

[Jeana Morgan]

They are hard though, when I rub between my fingers they don’t smoosh or nothing. It’s bizare

 

[Jeana Morgan]

Here are some pics from the video I took, it won’t let me upload it (too big) but this is a closer view/what comes out when I try to cut it in half. The first picture is the only one I’ve found that looks like a bug...

 

[DSC reef]

I'm thinking an outside source since it's under the hob filter. I can't find anything that would produce those with your current livestock. @KJ, @Lovemyreef2015 #reefsquad, any ideas??

 

[Jeana Morgan]

I’ve tried to locate it. Nothing around the stand, on the ceiling to fall in (even though I do have a lid) the only “media” in my HOB are pinapple sponges. They are by the HOB and the top of the heater. It’s the weirdest thing and it’s starting to drive me crazy. I’ve looked at night with my flashlight and don’t see any pest roaming about.

 

[Lovemyreef2015]

Looks a type of house fly cocoon.

 

[Idoc]

Looks like larvae of some sort that's falling into your tank. Maybe some insect had made these in the cracks of your lights or ceiling... somewhere above the tank.

 

[Crabs McJones]

That's a good one. My guess would be some sort of dried out fly larva or something similar. But you wouldn't think that fly larva would be dried out and hard after only a day....

 

[Jeana Morgan]

But the other catch is we have a lid...so how are they getting in? I know they aren’t falling in when I’m doing maintence or feeding. And there is literally only a handful, like 10 no more than 15. And they are there everyday after I remove them. I’m starting to go crazy!!! I get them out, check the next day and BAM! Literally the same exact spots (both of them) by the heater and HOB.

 

[ThunderGoose]

They really do look like cocoons of something. Time to do a science! Pull some out and put them in a container of tank water and watch what happens over the next few days (maybe weeks).

Where are you located? One of your state universities or a local museum might have an extension officer or outreach person who may be able to help or connect you with someone who can identify this. Let us know if you find out!

 

[Dsnakes]

Fly larvae hatch and grow surprisingly quick. They are also drawn to heat and moisture, then likely suffered the unexpected salty fate. Have you noticed any other bugs around the outside of tank? Any accessible or possible food source open?

 

[KJ]

@Lionfish Lair

 

[Jeana Morgan]

Fly larvae hatch and grow surprisingly quick. They are also drawn to heat and moisture, then likely suffered the unexpected salty fate. Have you noticed any other bugs around the outside of tank? Any accessible or possible food source open?

The tank is in our dining room, but we are clean freaks and are constantly cleaning (have 2 kids, kind of not an option lol) I haven’t noticed any food crumbs or anything but I will look again when I get home to double check.

 

[KJ]

Looks like a bug...

 

[Jeana Morgan]

They really do look like cocoons of something. Time to do a science! Pull some out and put them in a container of tank water and watch what happens over the next few days (maybe weeks).

Where are you located? One of your state universities or a local museum might have an extension officer or outreach person who may be able to help or connect you with someone who can identify this. Let us know if you find out!

We are in Texas. I can defiantly extract and watch, however I think the “form” I’m finding Them in is dead due to the salt. But I’ll try anything!

 

[sfin52]

I work for Orkin, it does look like some type of fly larvae. I don’t think it’s horse fly but maybe in warmer area. In the house it would be something that is dead. Have you smelled anything that smells like death. Do you have a drop crawling over the tank?


I would put plastic wrap over the water. Stop what ever is falling in. Than you’ll know for sure.

 

[Jeana Morgan]

Pretty sure I just figured it out! Y’all helped me google something I hadn’t before. I think they are Midge eggs. (Non-biting midge flys/mosquitoes) I been reading about them and they are legit what I’m experiencing, however the only difference is they aren’t floating with the “jelly” substance the articles are saying they are laid with. BUT! If they are laying them in the HOB (which has small holes in the top big enough for eggs to drop...) the “jelly” could be removed during the water movement from the filter to the tank.

 

[Jeana Morgan]

I work for Orkin, it does look like some type of fly larvae. I don’t think it’s horse fly but maybe in warmer area. In the house it would be something that is dead. Have you smelled anything that smells like death. Do you have a drop crawling over the tank?


I would put plastic wrap over the water. Stop what ever is falling in. Than you’ll know for sure.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.re...qzj7/psa_how_to_kill_midges_in_your_aquarium/

 

[sfin52]

Looks like they gone more than egg state.