Stella Posted May 23, 2006 Report Share Posted May 23, 2006 I found some nice plants in a local stream (doing all-native fish and want appropriate plants). They are sitting in a container on the kitchen bench due to slackness. I noticed a few days ago it is full of hydra. Not a creature I had come across before, but very cool. I have heard of them being bad in tanks, but mainly for fry. Should I be worried? How can I get rid of these things so I can use the plants? I have: 80 litre tank. 3 inanga 4 bullies random shrimp 1 crayfish Stella Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron_fish_mad_guy Posted May 23, 2006 Report Share Posted May 23, 2006 You could add a Gouramis for a little while as long as the tank is 22 degreees ish! they eat them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whetu Posted May 23, 2006 Report Share Posted May 23, 2006 Copper will do the little beasties in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharn Posted May 23, 2006 Report Share Posted May 23, 2006 i would think if your fish are smaller (not baby size obviously) they would snack on them all? but yeah, copper would probably work as long as you treat in a tank without your shrimp and cray (it hurts snails so i think it would hurt them too?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke* Posted May 23, 2006 Report Share Posted May 23, 2006 You can use alum or potassium permanganate also, treat seperately/away from your fish tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted May 23, 2006 Report Share Posted May 23, 2006 What is Hydra? I googled it...some kind of weird mythical creature is what I cam up with :oops: :oops: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zev Posted May 23, 2006 Report Share Posted May 23, 2006 Her you go, Caper, article on the wee beasties. http://members.optushome.com.au/chelmon/Hydra.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted May 23, 2006 Report Share Posted May 23, 2006 Thanks Zev YUCK...I certainly don't want them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whetu Posted May 24, 2006 Report Share Posted May 24, 2006 copper would probably work as long as you treat in a tank without your shrimp and cray (it hurts snails so i think it would hurt them too?) Ooh thanks, sharn. Copper will kill most inverts so yes, it will kill shrimps and crays and snails and worms and... That just proves that I should always read the question carefully before offering random answers! I'm glad sharn noticed that there were inverts in that tank. :oops: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pegasus Posted May 24, 2006 Report Share Posted May 24, 2006 Advise for the day: "It takes only a second ot two to put something "into" your tank.. but could take "months" to remove it" Bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella Posted May 24, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2006 Well, the good thing is these beasties are not in my tank yet, so treating them with copper is a possiblity. Is it a case of dunk for a few minutes and then rinse rinse rinse? What should I do to things before introducing them from the wild? Plants/rocks/fish. It was just chance that I noticed these things! Some things you cant see.. And it has been two months to get rid of the last nasties... :evil: Stella Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keri Anne Posted May 24, 2006 Report Share Posted May 24, 2006 The link Zev posted has advice for getting rid of them... don't know if this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keri Anne Posted May 24, 2006 Report Share Posted May 24, 2006 ...What should I do to things before introducing them from the wild? Plants/rocks/fish. It was just chance that I noticed these things! Some things you cant see.. And it has been two months to get rid of the last nasties... :evil: Stella With rocks and driftwood boil, boil, boil, boil. Plants aren't so easy but from now on I will be soaking all new plants I get in "Snail rid". In fact the plants I have will be soaked before hitting my fish room (once it's finished). With fish it never hurts to quarantine when you first get them. Edited to add: If getting fish from the wild you should ALWAYS quarantine and a quick salt bath may help reduce the chance of introducing external parasites into your tanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella Posted May 24, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2006 well the cray seems to love snails. I tried putting a whole lot in to kick off a population boom in the hope it would provide self-renewing snacks for the cray and bullies. Weren't any left after a week.... Don't know what you people keep complaining about with snails! How long should a new fish be quarantined for? I currently have a huge pot on the stove slowly making wood tea. Need to get around to boiling it one day before it starts it's own ecosystem... Stella Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharn Posted May 24, 2006 Report Share Posted May 24, 2006 normally around a month or so is a good average for quarentine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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