Help in IDing this creature

[Savethemall]

Kidding aside, I think that's merely an empty cast-off skin, rather than an actual critter. Did you ever see it alive and moving? And look at the tiny size of it; could be anything, even a simple mosquito or other small fly. Hard to say if that's the full size of the thing upon transformation to the adult...or simply the very first of many molts as it grew into a much-larger adult.

Not sure, but sidnt see anymore since then..

 

[duanes]

Here's one of the actual critters, not just the cast off exoskeleton, I found this one when cichlid fry started disappearing in a tank, it was hard to spot among the plants in the tank.


It was a couple inches long, before finally being noticed, and had eaten a bunch of M beanii fry before I finally spotted, and got rid of it.

Probably came in as a hitch hiker on some water hyacinth
When dropped in with adult cichlids, it became a quick snack for them
.