hydra infestation - non-medication approaches? Ramshorns? Clown Loaches?

M

MotionInSilver

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Nov 14, 2007
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Just noticed that I have a hydra colony going, a good number all over my tank with new snails- looks like tiny assassin snails but they're too pale looking to be baby ones. I had them in the past in the same tank before moving around stock/driftwood etc.

I do not want to treat that tank with any type of medications. I have a huge colony of clown loaches in another tank and I also read up somewhere that ramshorns eat hydra? if that is the case, I'll dump 200 of them in that tank with no problem at all as my stock tub is chockfull of them and was going to get some for loach snack that's the reason I raise them in that stock tub.

Reason of me asking about non-medication approaches is I have too many pricy plecos in that tank and I absolutely cannot risk any fry's lives in there. I have panaque fry in there right now as well as L134s.

If ramshorns can help get rid of the hydra, then in turn I can put about 2-3 clowns in that tank for snail work and put them back in the other tank?

Anyone have experience with ramshorns and hydras?
 
I don't know of non-medication - tried guppies but did not work. I used "Had a snail" and it works great. Did not bother the CPD's one bit but killed the hydra quickly.

Curious to see if anyone has had any success w/o meds.
 
Asolene spixi are a snail that eats hydra. Difficult to obtain because shipping them over state lines is illegal. Never heard of Ramshorns doing it, but it's possible. Blue Gouramis, Trichogaster trichopterus will definitely eat them.
 
Thank you guys for the input-

Asolene spixi might be plausible, I had them at one time before from a local guy, I'm going to contact him again and see if he still has them after all of those years. And I'm not sure about dealing with a fish I already do not have in one of my tanks, it would have to be QT'd etc.

I'm still pondering about the clown loaches if they'll nibble on the hydras or not. I already have plenty of them on hand in another tank and would not mind catching the smallest ones and set them to work.

Will get back to you guys about Asolene spixis I also posted an ad in the Classifieds for them just in case the guy doesn't have them on hand.
 
my local guy was told they were illegal to own so my local guy got rid of them as just heard back from him. Guess I'll have to go thru the salt method.

oh brother.
 
Hydrogen peroxide and an eyedropper will work, won't affect the fish, but not a practical approach if you have an infestation.
 
I've watched my P. bridgesii chow down hydras. Tylos can too, but that's a slow (and expensive) way to go generally.
 
Salt seems to have no effect on the hydras at this time! I dosed 2 tsp per 25L of water and did not want to continue any more.
 
Treat it the same as any other infestation like leeches or an overpopulation of snails -- cut down on feeding, increase water changes, do frequent gravel cleaning, and give it some time.
 
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