Help! Hydra!

[Elaine T]

I've never had trouble with hydra before. So where do they first crop
up? In my 2.5g shrimp tank, with a female holding eggs! *mutter* They
must have come in on some plants I grabbed from outside.

I'd prefer not to move the shrimp. They're red cherry shrimp and very
sensitive to changes in water conditions. That means no copper or
fluke-tabs for the time being.

Putting a Hydra eater in the tank temporarily seems ideal, but I'm
afraid a Trichogaster spp. gourami would eat the shrimp right along with
the Hydra. I read on the Krib that mystery snails will eat Hydra. Does
anyone have any experience that agrees? Are mystery snails likely to
leave baby shrimp alone? Are there any other small, mild-mannered hydra
eating creatures?

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Liz McGuire]

No experience, but I have a book which says...

In small numbers, removing and vigorously cleaning infested items
under running water should work.

Otherwise, in addition to the gourami, Paradise fish (Macropodus
opercularis) will eat hydra. Also, several hours at 40 degrees C will
kill them (be sure to gravel vac after). And, it's supposed to be
sensitive to common salt and salinity of .3 to .5 percent for 5-7 days
will usually do it (after which you should work toward restoring
normal water conditions).

No clue what conditions your shrimp might tolerate, but I'm sure you
know... :-)

FWIW,

Liz


Elaine T wrote:
>
> I've never had trouble with hydra before. So where do they first crop
> up? In my 2.5g shrimp tank, with a female holding eggs! *mutter* They
> must have come in on some plants I grabbed from outside.
>
> I'd prefer not to move the shrimp. They're red cherry shrimp and very
> sensitive to changes in water conditions. That means no copper or
> fluke-tabs for the time being.
>
> Putting a Hydra eater in the tank temporarily seems ideal, but I'm
> afraid a Trichogaster spp. gourami would eat the shrimp right along with
> the Hydra. I read on the Krib that mystery snails will eat Hydra. Does
> anyone have any experience that agrees? Are mystery snails likely to
> leave baby shrimp alone? Are there any other small, mild-mannered hydra
> eating creatures?
>
> --
> Elaine T __
> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
> rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[NetMax]

"Elaine T" > wrote in message
om...
> I've never had trouble with hydra before. So where do they first crop
> up? In my 2.5g shrimp tank, with a female holding eggs! *mutter*
> They must have come in on some plants I grabbed from outside.
>
> I'd prefer not to move the shrimp. They're red cherry shrimp and very
> sensitive to changes in water conditions. That means no copper or
> fluke-tabs for the time being.
>
> Putting a Hydra eater in the tank temporarily seems ideal, but I'm
> afraid a Trichogaster spp. gourami would eat the shrimp right along
> with the Hydra. I read on the Krib that mystery snails will eat Hydra.
> Does anyone have any experience that agrees? Are mystery snails likely
> to leave baby shrimp alone? Are there any other small, mild-mannered
> hydra eating creatures?
>
> --
> Elaine T

From the Advanced Aquarist Guide, Dr.Ghadially
Hydra are rather particular about water conditions and temperature, and
can hence be destroyed in many ways: i) Raising the temperature to 105F
for 15 minutes after the removal of the fish, ii) Ammonium nitrate
method, 300mg/g, repeat after 4 days if required, iii) Quinine, chlorine,
formaldehyde, copper sulphate etc are all equally effective, though
needlessly drastic, iv) Gouramis, Paradise fish and pond snails are all
reported to eat Hydra. hth

Given the presence of Cherry shrimps (you don't like to make it easy, do
you??? ;~), how about a licorice or dwarf gourami?
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Elaine T]

NetMax wrote:
> "Elaine T" > wrote in message
> om...
>
>>I've never had trouble with hydra before. So where do they first crop
>>up? In my 2.5g shrimp tank, with a female holding eggs! *mutter*
>>They must have come in on some plants I grabbed from outside.
>>
>>I'd prefer not to move the shrimp. They're red cherry shrimp and very
>>sensitive to changes in water conditions. That means no copper or
>>fluke-tabs for the time being.
>>
>>Putting a Hydra eater in the tank temporarily seems ideal, but I'm
>>afraid a Trichogaster spp. gourami would eat the shrimp right along
>>with the Hydra. I read on the Krib that mystery snails will eat Hydra.
>>Does anyone have any experience that agrees? Are mystery snails likely
>>to leave baby shrimp alone? Are there any other small, mild-mannered
>>hydra eating creatures?
>>
>>--
>>Elaine T
>
>
> From the Advanced Aquarist Guide, Dr.Ghadially
> Hydra are rather particular about water conditions and temperature, and
> can hence be destroyed in many ways: i) Raising the temperature to 105F
> for 15 minutes after the removal of the fish, ii) Ammonium nitrate
> method, 300mg/g, repeat after 4 days if required, iii) Quinine, chlorine,
> formaldehyde, copper sulphate etc are all equally effective, though
> needlessly drastic, iv) Gouramis, Paradise fish and pond snails are all
> reported to eat Hydra. hth
>
> Given the presence of Cherry shrimps (you don't like to make it easy, do
> you??? ;~), how about a licorice or dwarf gourami?

ROFL! It's no fun to ask the easy ones. ;-) Licorice gouramis are
neat but hard to find. I do see sparkling gouramis for sale all the
time - maybe they'd do the trick.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[LM]

I had hydra problems.. until I got the lace/pearl gouramis (T. Leeri).
now the hydras are gone

I had lots of brown algae (diatom) problems... until I got
otocincluses. now I don't get brown algaes anymore

I had thread algae problems.. until I got SAEs (c. siamensis). now the
thread algaes are gone

I had massive snail infestations, picking out 20+ snails from the tank
everyday and still brewing more... until I got zebra loaches (b.
striata). now all I find are empty snail shells

and what do I have in my tank now? 4 SAE, 4 gouramis, 4 zebra loaches,
few otos, and bunch of chain loaches. hmmm... it started out as 12
danio tank! all of them has since died off over the past 4 years...
and the fish I got as my tank cleaners have outlived them...

typical case of tank maintenance necessity dictating what fish to keep!

linda

[Charles]

On Mon, 12 Dec 2005 22:17:31 GMT, Elaine T >
wrote:

>I've never had trouble with hydra before. So where do they first crop
>up? In my 2.5g shrimp tank, with a female holding eggs! *mutter* They
>must have come in on some plants I grabbed from outside.
>
>I'd prefer not to move the shrimp. They're red cherry shrimp and very
>sensitive to changes in water conditions. That means no copper or
>fluke-tabs for the time being.
>
>Putting a Hydra eater in the tank temporarily seems ideal, but I'm
>afraid a Trichogaster spp. gourami would eat the shrimp right along with
>the Hydra. I read on the Krib that mystery snails will eat Hydra. Does
>anyone have any experience that agrees? Are mystery snails likely to
>leave baby shrimp alone? Are there any other small, mild-mannered hydra
>eating creatures?


Make a project of getting good photos of the hydras. I tried that,
the hydras disappeared.

[Elaine T]

Charles wrote:
> On Mon, 12 Dec 2005 22:17:31 GMT, Elaine T >
> wrote:
>
>
>>I've never had trouble with hydra before. So where do they first crop
>>up? In my 2.5g shrimp tank, with a female holding eggs! *mutter* They
>>must have come in on some plants I grabbed from outside.
>>
>>I'd prefer not to move the shrimp. They're red cherry shrimp and very
>>sensitive to changes in water conditions. That means no copper or
>>fluke-tabs for the time being.
>>
>>Putting a Hydra eater in the tank temporarily seems ideal, but I'm
>>afraid a Trichogaster spp. gourami would eat the shrimp right along with
>>the Hydra. I read on the Krib that mystery snails will eat Hydra. Does
>>anyone have any experience that agrees? Are mystery snails likely to
>>leave baby shrimp alone? Are there any other small, mild-mannered hydra
>>eating creatures?
>
>
>
> Make a project of getting good photos of the hydras. I tried that,
> the hydras disappeared.

ROFLMAO! My camera is terrible for aquatic photography. Maybe that's
just the cure!

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Marco Schwarz]

Hi..

> Putting a Hydra eater in the tank temporarily seems ideal,

1: I'm no friend of function animal tanks!

2: Macropodus opercularis: I've been keeping them for
(about) 30 years now. They do not really like eating hydra!

3: M. opercularis and Gouramis need special tanks.

4: Hydra - what kind of hydra (color!) do you have?

5: Hydra generally eat micro organism and generally multiply
in tanks with micro organism.

> the Hydra. I read on the Krib that mystery snails will
> eat Hydra.

6: Mystery snails? I only know "normal" snails! ;-)

--
cu
Marco

[NetMax]

"LM" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>I had hydra problems.. until I got the lace/pearl gouramis (T. Leeri).
> now the hydras are gone
>
> I had lots of brown algae (diatom) problems... until I got
> otocincluses. now I don't get brown algaes anymore
>
> I had thread algae problems.. until I got SAEs (c. siamensis). now the
> thread algaes are gone
>
> I had massive snail infestations, picking out 20+ snails from the tank
> everyday and still brewing more... until I got zebra loaches (b.
> striata). now all I find are empty snail shells
>
> and what do I have in my tank now? 4 SAE, 4 gouramis, 4 zebra loaches,
> few otos, and bunch of chain loaches. hmmm... it started out as 12
> danio tank! all of them has since died off over the past 4 years...
> and the fish I got as my tank cleaners have outlived them...
>
> typical case of tank maintenance necessity dictating what fish to keep!
>
> linda


That's one of the problems of too small a tank. By the time the
maintenance crew is established, there is little room for anything else
;~)
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Elaine T]

Marco Schwarz wrote:
> Hi..
>
>
>>Putting a Hydra eater in the tank temporarily seems ideal,
>
>
> 1: I'm no friend of function animal tanks!

I find biological control of undesirable critters more reliable and
safer for other tank inhabitants than chemical control. But to each his
own!

> 2: Macropodus opercularis: I've been keeping them for
> (about) 30 years now. They do not really like eating hydra!
>
> 3: M. opercularis and Gouramis need special tanks.

Special? What do you mean? I've kept pearl, 3-spot, and dwarf gouramis
in community tanks just fine. I can see where M. opercularis might want
calmer water and less company.

> 4: Hydra - what kind of hydra (color!) do you have?

Clearish white, with 6 tentacles. Probably H. vulgaris.

> 5: Hydra generally eat micro organism and generally multiply
> in tanks with micro organism.

Ny reading says they eat somewhat larger critters. Their main diet is
daphnia, cyclops, and chydorus. They also eat insect larvae, small
annelid worms, and rotifers. All of these should be visible as flecks
or tiny critters in the water column.

In my tank, I'm guessing they're living on tiny bits of the shrimp
pellets I drop in the tank for the shrimp. I've started feeding the
shrimp more algae and have dropped the shrimp pellets to twice a week to
see if it helps.

>>the Hydra. I read on the Krib that mystery snails will
>>eat Hydra.
>
>
> 6: Mystery snails? I only know "normal" snails! ;-)

Normal snails? I have at least three species of snails cruising around
my tanks and I wouldn't know which to even call normal. ;-) Mystery
snails (apple snails) are Pomacea bridgesii. They're the big black or
yellow snails usually available in aquarium shops.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com
PGP public key available at https://keyserver1.pgp.com/

[NetMax]

"Elaine T" > wrote in message
. com...
> Marco Schwarz wrote:
>> Hi..
>>
>>
>>>Putting a Hydra eater in the tank temporarily seems ideal,
>>
>>
>> 1: I'm no friend of function animal tanks!
>
> I find biological control of undesirable critters more reliable and
> safer for other tank inhabitants than chemical control. But to each
> his own!
>
>> 2: Macropodus opercularis: I've been keeping them for
>> (about) 30 years now. They do not really like eating hydra!
>>
>> 3: M. opercularis and Gouramis need special tanks.
>
> Special? What do you mean? I've kept pearl, 3-spot, and dwarf
> gouramis in community tanks just fine. I can see where M. opercularis
> might want calmer water and less company.
>
>> 4: Hydra - what kind of hydra (color!) do you have?
>
> Clearish white, with 6 tentacles. Probably H. vulgaris.
>
>> 5: Hydra generally eat micro organism and generally multiply
>> in tanks with micro organism.
>
> Ny reading says they eat somewhat larger critters. Their main diet is
> daphnia, cyclops, and chydorus. They also eat insect larvae, small
> annelid worms, and rotifers. All of these should be visible as flecks
> or tiny critters in the water column.
>
> In my tank, I'm guessing they're living on tiny bits of the shrimp
> pellets I drop in the tank for the shrimp. I've started feeding the
> shrimp more algae and have dropped the shrimp pellets to twice a week
> to see if it helps.
>
>>>the Hydra. I read on the Krib that mystery snails will
>>>eat Hydra.
>>
>>
>> 6: Mystery snails? I only know "normal" snails! ;-)
>
> Normal snails? I have at least three species of snails cruising around
> my tanks and I wouldn't know which to even call normal. ;-) Mystery
> snails (apple snails) are Pomacea bridgesii. They're the big black or
> yellow snails usually available in aquarium shops.
>
> --
> Elaine T __
> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
> rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com
> PGP public key available at https://keyserver1.pgp.com/

Elaine (FYI), Marco is ... a foreigner. His command of English is not
too bad, but his grasp of our common terms is hit & miss. Good depth of
unique experience, which often does not follow typical North-American
doctrine. He started with various nontypical nontropical biotope tanks
so he has a distinctly different view on some things :o).
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Elaine T]

NetMax wrote:
> "Elaine T" > wrote in message
> . com...
>
>>Marco Schwarz wrote:
>>
>>>Hi..
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>Putting a Hydra eater in the tank temporarily seems ideal,
>>>
>>>
>>>1: I'm no friend of function animal tanks!
>>
>>I find biological control of undesirable critters more reliable and
>>safer for other tank inhabitants than chemical control. But to each
>>his own!
>>
>>
>>>2: Macropodus opercularis: I've been keeping them for
>>>(about) 30 years now. They do not really like eating hydra!
>>>
>>>3: M. opercularis and Gouramis need special tanks.
>>
>>Special? What do you mean? I've kept pearl, 3-spot, and dwarf
>>gouramis in community tanks just fine. I can see where M. opercularis
>>might want calmer water and less company.
>>
>>
>>>4: Hydra - what kind of hydra (color!) do you have?
>>
>>Clearish white, with 6 tentacles. Probably H. vulgaris.
>>
>>
>>>5: Hydra generally eat micro organism and generally multiply
>>>in tanks with micro organism.
>>
>>Ny reading says they eat somewhat larger critters. Their main diet is
>>daphnia, cyclops, and chydorus. They also eat insect larvae, small
>>annelid worms, and rotifers. All of these should be visible as flecks
>>or tiny critters in the water column.
>>
>>In my tank, I'm guessing they're living on tiny bits of the shrimp
>>pellets I drop in the tank for the shrimp. I've started feeding the
>>shrimp more algae and have dropped the shrimp pellets to twice a week
>>to see if it helps.
>>
>>
>>>>the Hydra. I read on the Krib that mystery snails will
>>>>eat Hydra.
>>>
>>>
>>>6: Mystery snails? I only know "normal" snails! ;-)
>>
>>Normal snails? I have at least three species of snails cruising around
>>my tanks and I wouldn't know which to even call normal. ;-) Mystery
>>snails (apple snails) are Pomacea bridgesii. They're the big black or
>>yellow snails usually available in aquarium shops.
>>
>>--
>>Elaine T __
>>http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
>>rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com
>>PGP public key available at https://keyserver1.pgp.com/
>
>
> Elaine (FYI), Marco is ... a foreigner. His command of English is not
> too bad, but his grasp of our common terms is hit & miss. Good depth of
> unique experience, which often does not follow typical North-American
> doctrine. He started with various nontypical nontropical biotope tanks
> so he has a distinctly different view on some things :o).

Good to know. I'll stick to Latin names then. There's nothing quite
like a common dead language for clear communication. ;-) "Mystery
snail" really is a funny common name for a critter. Kind of like "Who's
on first?" I'm curious to hear more about nontropical biotope
tanks...that sounds really interesting. My own outdoor tank is tending
towards Florida natives, with mollies, blue-fin killies, and flag fish.

I actually wouldn't mind the Hyrda in my tank if I weren't trying to
breed the shrimp. They're rather interesting and don't seem to be
reproducing too fast or harming the adult shrimp.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com
PGP public key available at https://keyserver1.pgp.com/

[Charles]

On Sat, 17 Dec 2005 04:50:24 GMT, Elaine T >
wrote:

>NetMax wrote:
>> "Elaine T" > wrote in message
>> . com...
>>
>>>Marco Schwarz wrote:
>>>
>>>>Hi..
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Putting a Hydra eater in the tank temporarily seems ideal,
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>1: I'm no friend of function animal tanks!
>>>
>>>I find biological control of undesirable critters more reliable and
>>>safer for other tank inhabitants than chemical control. But to each
>>>his own!
>>>
>>>
>>>>2: Macropodus opercularis: I've been keeping them for
>>>>(about) 30 years now. They do not really like eating hydra!
>>>>
>>>>3: M. opercularis and Gouramis need special tanks.
>>>
>>>Special? What do you mean? I've kept pearl, 3-spot, and dwarf
>>>gouramis in community tanks just fine. I can see where M. opercularis
>>>might want calmer water and less company.
>>>
>>>
>>>>4: Hydra - what kind of hydra (color!) do you have?
>>>
>>>Clearish white, with 6 tentacles. Probably H. vulgaris.
>>>
>>>
>>>>5: Hydra generally eat micro organism and generally multiply
>>>>in tanks with micro organism.
>>>
>>>Ny reading says they eat somewhat larger critters. Their main diet is
>>>daphnia, cyclops, and chydorus. They also eat insect larvae, small
>>>annelid worms, and rotifers. All of these should be visible as flecks
>>>or tiny critters in the water column.
>>>
>>>In my tank, I'm guessing they're living on tiny bits of the shrimp
>>>pellets I drop in the tank for the shrimp. I've started feeding the
>>>shrimp more algae and have dropped the shrimp pellets to twice a week
>>>to see if it helps.
>>>
>>>
>>>>>the Hydra. I read on the Krib that mystery snails will
>>>>>eat Hydra.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>6: Mystery snails? I only know "normal" snails! ;-)
>>>
>>>Normal snails? I have at least three species of snails cruising around
>>>my tanks and I wouldn't know which to even call normal. ;-) Mystery
>>>snails (apple snails) are Pomacea bridgesii. They're the big black or
>>>yellow snails usually available in aquarium shops.
>>>
>>>--
>>>Elaine T __
>>>http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
>>>rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com
>>>PGP public key available at https://keyserver1.pgp.com/
>>
>>
>> Elaine (FYI), Marco is ... a foreigner. His command of English is not
>> too bad, but his grasp of our common terms is hit & miss. Good depth of
>> unique experience, which often does not follow typical North-American
>> doctrine. He started with various nontypical nontropical biotope tanks
>> so he has a distinctly different view on some things :o).
>
>Good to know. I'll stick to Latin names then. There's nothing quite
>like a common dead language for clear communication. ;-) "Mystery
>snail" really is a funny common name for a critter. Kind of like "Who's
>on first?" I'm curious to hear more about nontropical biotope
>tanks...that sounds really interesting. My own outdoor tank is tending
>towards Florida natives, with mollies, blue-fin killies, and flag fish.
>
>I actually wouldn't mind the Hyrda in my tank if I weren't trying to
>breed the shrimp. They're rather interesting and don't seem to be
>reproducing too fast or harming the adult shrimp.


Do your Blue fins reproduce?

I have a tank outside with blue fins, Mollies, and now some white
clouds. Have had the bluefins for a couple years, don't seem to be
getting anymore. Tank is a 60G.

[Elaine T]

Charles wrote:

> Do your Blue fins reproduce?
>
> I have a tank outside with blue fins, Mollies, and now some white
> clouds. Have had the bluefins for a couple years, don't seem to be
> getting anymore. Tank is a 60G.

I only got the blue fins a month or so ago and they're juveniles. I'm
not very hopeful since all of the baby mollies have been eaten. This is
a good thing really, given how mollies reproduce when unchecked. The
fry eater is probably the non-biotope weather loach I added to look
cool, eat snails, and forage the bottom. There's also a little ryukin
in the tank, temporarily housed there until I can figure out how to keep
the local racoon out of the pond. I think the ryukin is probably a bit
on the slow side to be a very effective predator on much other than snails.

Once the blue fins grow and I can sex them I may move a pair indoors to
see if I can breed them. They're neat fish - I've never had
nonaggressive, shoaling killies before.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com
PGP public key available at https://keyserver1.pgp.com/

[Charles]

On Sat, 17 Dec 2005 10:27:06 GMT, Elaine T >
wrote:

>Charles wrote:
>
>> Do your Blue fins reproduce?
>>
>> I have a tank outside with blue fins, Mollies, and now some white
>> clouds. Have had the bluefins for a couple years, don't seem to be
>> getting anymore. Tank is a 60G.
>
>I only got the blue fins a month or so ago and they're juveniles. I'm
>not very hopeful since all of the baby mollies have been eaten. This is
>a good thing really, given how mollies reproduce when unchecked. The
>fry eater is probably the non-biotope weather loach I added to look
>cool, eat snails, and forage the bottom. There's also a little ryukin
>in the tank, temporarily housed there until I can figure out how to keep
>the local racoon out of the pond. I think the ryukin is probably a bit
>on the slow side to be a very effective predator on much other than snails.
>
>Once the blue fins grow and I can sex them I may move a pair indoors to
>see if I can breed them. They're neat fish - I've never had
>nonaggressive, shoaling killies before.


I think I mat have one young one in the batch, I suppose they eat
their young. I had a problem feeding mine, during mosquito season
they like the wigglers, but they didn't want to take flake food.
Since I added the mollies the blue-fins became a little more brave and
will take the flakes. A pond store near here sells them, mixed with
Gambusia, as mosquito fish, but they let me sort out the ones I
wanted. I wish I knew how to breed them, or raise the young, at
least, mine are ginning a bit long in the tooth, I'm afraid I might
lose them.

[Elaine T]

Charles wrote:
> On Sat, 17 Dec 2005 10:27:06 GMT, Elaine T >
> wrote:
>
>
>>Charles wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Do your Blue fins reproduce?
>>>
>>>I have a tank outside with blue fins, Mollies, and now some white
>>>clouds. Have had the bluefins for a couple years, don't seem to be
>>>getting anymore. Tank is a 60G.
>>
>>I only got the blue fins a month or so ago and they're juveniles. I'm
>>not very hopeful since all of the baby mollies have been eaten. This is
>>a good thing really, given how mollies reproduce when unchecked. The
>>fry eater is probably the non-biotope weather loach I added to look
>>cool, eat snails, and forage the bottom. There's also a little ryukin
>>in the tank, temporarily housed there until I can figure out how to keep
>>the local racoon out of the pond. I think the ryukin is probably a bit
>>on the slow side to be a very effective predator on much other than snails.
>>
>>Once the blue fins grow and I can sex them I may move a pair indoors to
>>see if I can breed them. They're neat fish - I've never had
>>nonaggressive, shoaling killies before.
>
>
>
> I think I mat have one young one in the batch, I suppose they eat
> their young. I had a problem feeding mine, during mosquito season
> they like the wigglers, but they didn't want to take flake food.
> Since I added the mollies the blue-fins became a little more brave and
> will take the flakes. A pond store near here sells them, mixed with
> Gambusia, as mosquito fish, but they let me sort out the ones I
> wanted. I wish I knew how to breed them, or raise the young, at
> least, mine are ginning a bit long in the tooth, I'm afraid I might
> lose them.

Yes. Killies have depressingly short lifespans. I got mine from the
local aquarium society. They took flake from the start, but maybe they
followed the mollies' lead. They also eat aphids I knock off of the
plants, and supposedly algae.

I've found a couple of breeding reports.
http://fins.actwin.com/killietalk/month.9906/msg00071.html
http://www.millevolte.com/nativefish05.html

They're mop spawners, but nobody lists a breeding trigger. I'd guess
springtime triggers - maybe warmer temps, longer days, and greater
availability of rich food like insect larvae? If I can get eggs, I'll
move the mop to a separate container. The reports say the fry are tiny
and have to be started on infusoria and microworms.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Marco Schwarz]

Hi..

> I find biological control of undesirable critters more
> reliable and safer for other tank inhabitants than
> chemical control.

Stop feeding hydra and your trouble will have an end.

> I can see where M. opercularis might want calmer
> water and less company.

Sorry, M. opercularis is more than a fish that need calmer
water and less company.

> Clearish white, with 6 tentacles. Probably H. vulgaris.

Easy to minimize. It has no symbiosis algae.

> In my tank, I'm guessing they're living on tiny bits of
> the shrimp pellets I drop in the tank for the shrimp.

I guess the shrimps are the reason of hydra's increase.

> Mystery snails (apple snails) are Pomacea bridgesii.

P. bridgesi eat hydra - like other snail species.

--
cu
Marco

[Marco Schwarz]

Hi..

> Elaine (FYI), Marco is ... a foreigner.
> He started with various nontypical nontropical
> biotope tanks

That's true.

> so he has a distinctly different view on
> some things :o).

But I had some typical tropical biotope tanks, too. :-)

--
cu
Marco

[Marco Schwarz]

Hi..

> Good to know. I'll stick to Latin names then.

Scientific names. ;-)

> There's
> nothing quite
> like a common dead language for clear communication. ;-)
^^
How many words of french (or finally latin) origin does this
sentence contain? ;-)

> I'm curious to hear more about nontropical
> biotope tanks...that sounds really interesting.

I'm sure you will find a way to ask your questions..
--
cu
Marco

[Elaine T]

Marco Schwarz wrote:
> Hi..
>
>
>>I find biological control of undesirable critters more
>>reliable and safer for other tank inhabitants than
>>chemical control.
>
>
> Stop feeding hydra and your trouble will have an end.
>
>
>>I can see where M. opercularis might want calmer
>>water and less company.
>
> Sorry, M. opercularis is more than a fish that need calmer
> water and less company.
>

Out of curiosity, what conditions do you recommend for M. opercularis?
I've never kept one.

>>Clearish white, with 6 tentacles. Probably H. vulgaris.
>
> Easy to minimize. It has no symbiosis algae.
>
>>In my tank, I'm guessing they're living on tiny bits of
>>the shrimp pellets I drop in the tank for the shrimp.
>
> I guess the shrimps are the reason of hydra's increase.
>
>>Mystery snails (apple snails) are Pomacea bridgesii.
>
> P. bridgesi eat hydra - like other snail species.
>
Thank you for the help. I'm already feeding less prepared food and more
algae. I may try Nori as mentioned in another thread. If other snails
work, I'll introduce a couple of Planorbid (ramshorn) snails. I keep
an attractive red strain around. If they don't do the trick, I'll go to
the store for a P. bridgesii.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Charles]

On Sat, 17 Dec 2005 20:59:27 GMT, Elaine T >
wrote:

>Charles wrote:
>> On Sat, 17 Dec 2005 10:27:06 GMT, Elaine T >
>> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Charles wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Do your Blue fins reproduce?
>>>>
>>>>I have a tank outside with blue fins, Mollies, and now some white
>>>>clouds. Have had the bluefins for a couple years, don't seem to be
>>>>getting anymore. Tank is a 60G.
>>>
>>>I only got the blue fins a month or so ago and they're juveniles. I'm
>>>not very hopeful since all of the baby mollies have been eaten. This is
>>>a good thing really, given how mollies reproduce when unchecked. The
>>>fry eater is probably the non-biotope weather loach I added to look
>>>cool, eat snails, and forage the bottom. There's also a little ryukin
>>>in the tank, temporarily housed there until I can figure out how to keep
>>>the local racoon out of the pond. I think the ryukin is probably a bit
>>>on the slow side to be a very effective predator on much other than snails.
>>>
>>>Once the blue fins grow and I can sex them I may move a pair indoors to
>>>see if I can breed them. They're neat fish - I've never had
>>>nonaggressive, shoaling killies before.
>>
>>
>>
>> I think I mat have one young one in the batch, I suppose they eat
>> their young. I had a problem feeding mine, during mosquito season
>> they like the wigglers, but they didn't want to take flake food.
>> Since I added the mollies the blue-fins became a little more brave and
>> will take the flakes. A pond store near here sells them, mixed with
>> Gambusia, as mosquito fish, but they let me sort out the ones I
>> wanted. I wish I knew how to breed them, or raise the young, at
>> least, mine are ginning a bit long in the tooth, I'm afraid I might
>> lose them.
>
>Yes. Killies have depressingly short lifespans. I got mine from the
>local aquarium society. They took flake from the start, but maybe they
>followed the mollies' lead. They also eat aphids I knock off of the
>plants, and supposedly algae.
>
>I've found a couple of breeding reports.
>http://fins.actwin.com/killietalk/month.9906/msg00071.html
>http://www.millevolte.com/nativefish05.html
>
>They're mop spawners, but nobody lists a breeding trigger. I'd guess
>springtime triggers - maybe warmer temps, longer days, and greater
>availability of rich food like insect larvae? If I can get eggs, I'll
>move the mop to a separate container. The reports say the fry are tiny
>and have to be started on infusoria and microworms.


those are interesting, I should try a serious attempt at breeding,
either that or put them in a bigger tub and see if they can figure it
out for themselves

[Marco Schwarz]

Hi..

> Out of curiosity, what conditions do you recommend for M.
> opercularis? I've never kept one.

Biotope tank, space, warm or subtropical conditions. Few
fish. Low Tanks or small and low ponds crowded by plants.
Life food. Patient keepers...

Well, I could continue talking about M. opercularis for many
hours.. ;-)

But what do you exactly wish to know?

> I'll introduce a couple of Planorbid (ramshorn)
> snails. I keep an attractive red strain around.

I keep - red and dark brown - ramshorn snails, too. They are
nice to keep, but I'm not sure they eat hydra!

Here in Europe, I would possibly recommend lymnaea spec..

--
cu
Marco

[Marco Schwarz]

> Here in Europe, I would possibly recommend lymnaea spec..

Lymnaea spec. (we call them directly translated "mud
snails") or Viviparus viviparus, a living-bearing (sump)
snail. You might have similar snails in North America.

--
cu
Marco

[Elaine T]

Marco Schwarz wrote:
>>Here in Europe, I would possibly recommend lymnaea spec..
>
>
> Lymnaea spec. (we call them directly translated "mud
> snails") or Viviparus viviparus, a living-bearing (sump)
> snail. You might have similar snails in North America.
>
I watched a ramshorn snail actually touch a Hydra yesterday with its
feelers. The hydra shrunk back and the snail completely ignored it.
Not food. Surprisingly, I have no Lymnaea snails in the outdoor tank or
pond. I've got some sort of Physa spp. out there but they're pretty
small and they can be pests themselves. I think I'll try a P. bridgesii
next.

Thanks for all the help.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com