Help! Hydra!

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