Hydra on the glass

[pseudoblond]

I just found some hanging off the glass. I've read that these aren't harmful to most fish and they're very common, but still...what about Discus? Will they be affected? I also have live plants, 3 corydoras, 2 botias, and a rubber lip pleco, so I don't want to harm them. 55 g long
ph 7.0
nitrates 0
nitrites 2
84 degrees

[Carol_Roberts]

Are they hydra or planaria. Planaria are a sign of overfeeding. Cut back on food, increase water changes and wipe down inside of glass and inside of filter boxes. They will slowly disappear over the next couple of weeks. Planarias do not harm discus, etc, but the overfeeding and poor water conditions will.

[Wahter]

Here's a photo of a couple of hydra (the don't necessarily hang upside down, they will cling to glass, plants, etc... and wave their tentacles around grabbing things, such as fry, to eat). I got this photo off:

http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/imgfeb02/hydra.jpg

BTW, I've read on http://www.thekrib.com that fluketabs at half strength will wipe out hydra.

HTH,


Walter

[sidra]

I had a pretty bad outbreak of hydra in my tank about a month ago. They were everywhere! I have been doing daily water changes, wiping down the glass and siphoning any waste out of the gravel daily and they are 99.9% gone. I think I've only seen one hydra since.

[Carol_Roberts]

Those look pretty scary, Walter.

[pseudoblond]

No, they're definitely hydra. I've had planaria in a different tank before and these are not them. You can see the little tentacles at the end when you get up close. I don't overfeed at all, and I do a 35% water change every Saturday, and wipe it down. I have no idea where they came from. So, I did a 60% wc yesterday, wiped everything down, took out what deco I could and wiped and washed it. I'll check out those fluketabs. Thanks!

[jeep]

Wow, I sure wouldn't want those in my tank :scared:

I would try some Parasite Clear. It always takes out the planaria in my tanks when I use it. Maybe it'll do the same for hydra????

[Wahter]

Clout will also wipe out hydra - one of my friends who keeps apistos and rams told me that's what she's used and it works well. I believe even the packaging for Clout says it works for treating hydra infestations.

[sidra]

Yes, CLOUT does state it will eliminate hydra. But it also states it will stain the silicone in your tank and may be harmful to your bacteria colony.

I bought it but never used it for those reasons. I just started cleaning my tank like a mad woman.

Kristen

[pseudoblond]

I'm scared to put anything in the tank, so I'll just see how my wc's work and go from there. It makes me mad how you can do your wc's, monitor your water quality, not overfeed and you can STILL get these stupid little annoying organisms. Argh. Oh, well, at least my Discus are clueless.

[Dick Discus]

Bausman Fish Tonic will distroy HYDRA, its a staple tonic. DD

[Wahter]

FlukeTabs at half a dose (one dose is all you need) will also wipe out hydra. Tried it a couple of weeks ago in one planted tank. Bye bye hydra!

[toddmc]

What is hydra I have never heard of it Todd

[Wahter]

What is hydra I have never heard of it Todd

They're a plague! They can eat young fry! I found this photo at http://www.fishpondinfo.com/.

Here's more info:

http://schmidling.netfirms.com/hydra.htm

[Wahter]

Here's a cross sectional sketch showing the anatomy:


http://io.uwinnipeg.ca/~simmons/images/lb6fig3b.gif