Bugs in my water lily pond

[WaterGardenLover]

Very frustrated by the multiplying bugs in my water lily pond.
I guess these are Dragon flies(picture attached) but not sure.
The pond has guppy fish also.
These bugs keep eating the guppy fry hence decreasing the guppy quantity.

I have cleaned the pond completely by removing all the water, fish and plants a couple of times.
There are no bugs for initial 15-20 days post cleaning but after that they start coming back.

I am looking for a fish and plant friendly solution for this.

Thanks.

 

[sissy]

You can use peroxide and spray it with a mix of it with water .I am surprised fish have not eaten them .Not sure what they are i am no bug expert

 

[Priscilla]

They don't look like the dragon fly larva.

 

[Nepen]

They look like dragonfly larvae to me. I love them, they eats mosquitoes larvae!!! and then they turn into beautiful flying bugs that eat mosquitoes....

 

[Meyer Jordan]

Yes, those are Dragonfly larvae. They are a natural part of any aquatic eco-system. Yes, they will eat small fish, tadpoles, etc., but they may also eaten by large fish. No way to prevent them from occupying your pond short of screening it in or erecting some other structure around it. Any thing that will kill these creatures will also harm other organisms in the pond, including the fish.

 

[Big Lou]

Good for nature.

 

[j.w]

Love them and welcome them to my pond. I think if you don't want them to breed in your pond you will have to use a screen. You can buy large pieces of fiberglass screen door material at Lowes or H-depot for cheap. Maybe find out when breeding season is and only use the screen at that time.

 

[bettasngoldfish]

These bugs keep eating the guppy fry hence decreasing the guppy quantity.

Do you have any live plants in the pond for the fish to hide in? Java moss is a good live plant that will give the guppies a place to hide (leave it loose to float in the water and it will even attach itself to rocks, driftwood, etc)

 

[j.w]

Good idea @bettasngoldfish and Parrots Feather which grows really big is another good one for hiding in. Lots of plants for the fish to hide would really help.