Eventually, your baby dragonfly emerges into adulthood.
Whether you are keeping a baby dragonfly as part of a school project or you simply want to experience the life cycle of the dragonfly, caring for a dragonfly nymph is a learning experience. From creating a proper living environment to feeding, dragonfly nymphs require as much care and attention as a furrier pet. Caring for a dragonfly nymph is not an overnight process. The length of the nymph stage depends on the species of dragonfly as well as the age of the nymph you acquire.
Instructions
1. Make a home for your dragonfly nymph. Add dirt and rocks to the bottom of a jar or a small tank. Fill the jar or tank with spring water. Place submerged plants such as hornwort or water starwort in the water. Provide emerging plants such as bog bean and bur-reed to the water. Place stick vertically in the water. This gives emerging nymphs a place to crawl up and out of the water.
2. Let the newly assembled tank sit for a few days. This allows the plants and temperature to stabilize.
3. Add your dragonfly nymph to the tank or jar. Allow the nymph to swim around and get used to the new habitat.
4. Feed your nymph. Provide plenty of feed such as mosquito larvae or bits of raw chicken. Place bits of chicken on the end of the stick. Place the end of the stick in the water. Allow the nymph to feed from the stick. Drop mosquito larvae into the water. The nymph will locate the larvae and feed.
5. Change the water occasionally. Nymphs enjoy stagnant or slow moving water. Add water to the jar or tank as it depletes. Completely change the water every few months. Take a scoop of dirt and rocks from the bottom of the current jar or tank. Place the dirt and rocks at the bottom of a new jar or tank. Fill the new jar or tank with spring water. Place one of the underwater plants from the old habitat into the new habitat. Add an emerging plant from the old habitat to the new habitat. Take the vertical stick from the old habitat and place it in the new habitat. Let the new jar or tank stabilize for a day. Add the rest of the plants and dirt to the jar or tank.
6. Place the nymph in a plastic container. Place a paper towel in the bottom of the container. Pour water from the old tank or jar over the paper towel. Fill the container up with at least two inches of water. Place the nymph in the container. Poke holes in the container lid. Put the lid on the container. Feed the nymph mosquito larvae while in the container. House the nymph in the container for the next twenty-four hours. This allows the new habitat to completely stabilize.
7. Put the nymph in the new habitat. Pour the water and the nymph into the new habitat. Allow the nymph to familiarize itself with the surroundings.
Tags: dragonfly nymph, water Place, Allow nymph, dirt rocks, from habitat, mosquito larvae