I've seen mention of all sorts of cool inverts here, but I've yet to hear from anyone keeping some of the neatest fresh-water carnivores out there. There are a number of water "bugs" that qualify as little monsters in their own right.
I've yet to set a permanent tank with any of them for myself, but I'm planning to.
Giant water bugs, water scorpions and some of the larger water beetles are not too hard to find (either in the wild or from dealers.) They are fairly active, unique aquarium dwellers, and watching them catch a small minnow or a tadpole can be quite impressive.
Oarsmen, small diving beetles and water spiders are also neat, but a little more difficult to find and/or catch.
Basic requirements are clean water, a perch for them to rest on, as they are air-breathers who will need to rest on something every so often or risk drowning, and a secure screen-type cover to prevent their escape if you intend to keep them around for any length of time.
Feeding involves suitable prey items, (or in the case of some diving beetles, fish flake food.)
Does anyone else keep any of these?
I've yet to set a permanent tank with any of them for myself, but I'm planning to.
Giant water bugs, water scorpions and some of the larger water beetles are not too hard to find (either in the wild or from dealers.) They are fairly active, unique aquarium dwellers, and watching them catch a small minnow or a tadpole can be quite impressive.
Oarsmen, small diving beetles and water spiders are also neat, but a little more difficult to find and/or catch.
Basic requirements are clean water, a perch for them to rest on, as they are air-breathers who will need to rest on something every so often or risk drowning, and a secure screen-type cover to prevent their escape if you intend to keep them around for any length of time.
Feeding involves suitable prey items, (or in the case of some diving beetles, fish flake food.)
Does anyone else keep any of these?
