what do you know about hydra?

[fin-atic]

I had a10g tank. In this tank after a while I noted something all over the glass and free floating. I assumed it was a white algae bloom and did a large water change, kept the lights off etc. Anyways, I now have a 20g high instead, we used some of the rocks and substrated to help with getting it going. I have noticed some of the same thing. It looks like little white feathers. Attached to the glass is a small strand, then it branches out like a feather would. It sways with the current and floats wherever the current takes it. I was reading some stuff on the net and came across a question from someone with the same description and she was told that it was the Hydra (freshwater cnidarian). What do I do? If it is this Hydra it suggested to take the fish out and raise the temp very high to kill it off. I would prefer to find out what it is first. No one seems to know what I am talking about. It makes the tank look uncleaned as there is stuff floating in it.

[daveedka]

I only know a bit from research I did when I hadx some hydra last year.

There are a million or so claimed cures but only a few that really seem to be considered valid.
1. Red Ramshorn snails will eat hydra, and since they are really beneficial to have in any tank anyhow that IMO would be the best option.
2. Most Gourami's are said to eat it as well, if they fit your stocking plan great if they don't that probably isn't the best option.
3. Fluke tabs will kill hydra, but of course Fluke tabs are really harsh, and should be used with some caution.

Just remember that unless you have small fry, Hydra isn't a danger. It multiplies based on available organics in the tank, so increased cleaning/ reduced feeding will slow it down dramatically. And the big thing to remember is don't try to scrape or smash it since each mangled particle could potentially re-generate into a whole new hydra.
dave

[tricksterpup]

http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/olympusmicd/galleries/moviegallery/images/pondscum/hydra.jpg


http://www.eeob.iastate.edu/faculty/DrewesC/htdocs/hydra-mature.jpg

and finally
http://www.pantheon.org/areas/gallery/folklore/greek_heroic/hydra.gif

You usually do not want to have any of these in your tank. They will eat small fish if they can grab ahold of them.

[fin-atic]

you wouldn't happen to know what magnification those pictures are do you. Becuase what I had in the 10g did not look that big. If you stuck your nose right against the tank, you would see something that resembled a feather.

Am I going crazy, am I seeing things, or is there a name to this??

[wwildcats04]

I have heard that different Gourami eat them. You may want to look into it, cheap beautiful addition to a tank that also solves your problem

[daveedka]

you wouldn't happen to know what magnification those pictures are do you. Becuase what I had in the 10g did not look that big. If you stuck your nose right against the tank, you would see something that resembled a feather.


Those pictures except for the last one :p: are magnified pretty heavily. 3/4" hydra is rare, and usually it is much smaller. When folks talk about it grabbing fish they are usually referring to very very small fry. Livebearer fry are really a bit big for most hydra, it's only the minute fry species that are in real danger.
Dave