Hydra are a common pest that can invade shrimp tanks. These tiny creatures look harmless at first glance, but they can quickly multiply and wreak havoc on a shrimp colony. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about eliminating hydra from your shrimp tank for good.
What Are Hydra?
Hydra are small freshwater animals that resemble miniature jellyfish or sea anemones. They have a thin tubular body with a mouth surrounded by tentacles on one end. The tentacles contain stinging cells that allow them to capture prey.
Though they may look like plants, hydra are actually carnivorous animals. They use their stinging tentacles to paralyze small creatures like baby shrimp or copepods, then draw their prey into their mouth to digest it.
A single hydra ranges from 1 to 20 mm long when fully extended. Their bodies are usually transparent or white, though some species have a greenish tinge due to algae growing inside their tissues.
Hydra reproduce asexually by budding off new hydras from their body This allows them to multiply rapidly under the right conditions A single hydra can turn into a full-blown infestation within weeks.
Are Hydra Harmful to Shrimp?
Hydra primarily pose a threat to baby shrimp and other small tank inhabitants. Adult shrimp are generally too large for hydra to capture and eat. However, hydra can still harm adult shrimp in a few ways:
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Stinging – The hydra’s stinging cells can irritate and potentially weaken adult shrimp over time. This stress may make them more vulnerable to disease.
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Competition – Hydra compete with shrimp for food sources like algae and microorganisms. A large hydra population can starve shrimp by depleting their food supply.
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Eating baby shrimp – While adult shrimp are safe, tender baby shrimp are the perfect size for hydra to consume. Hydra can quickly decimate young shrimp and prevent colony growth.
So while hydra don’t directly kill adult shrimp, their presence almost always spells trouble. Letting hydra multiply unchecked puts your whole colony at risk.
How Do Hydra Get Into Shrimp Tanks?
Hydra enter aquariums as hitchhiking pests on new plants or decor. Their small size allows them to hide undetected among leaves or in tiny crevices. Just a single hydra clinging to a plant can populate your whole tank after a few weeks.
Here are some common ways hydra sneak into shrimp tanks:
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On new plants – Hydra adhere to plant leaves and stems. Carefully inspect new plants and dip or quarantine them before adding to your tank.
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With live fish foods – Hydra may enter the tank in containers of live foods like daphnia or brine shrimp. Stick to high quality, lab-cultured live foods.
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From shared equipment – Nets, siphons, buckets etc used in multiple tanks can transfer pests like hydra. Dedicate tools solely for your shrimp tank.
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Through fish – Fish purchased from contaminated tanks may release hydra into your shrimp habitat. Quarantine new fish separately.
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On hardscapes – Hydra can latch onto driftwood, rocks, decor and other hardscape items. Boil or disinfect them before use.
With some basic precautions, you can avoid introducing hydra in the first place. Quarantining new plants and animals before adding them your tank is highly recommended.
How to Remove Hydra from a Shrimp Tank
If those dreaded hydra have already taken up residence in your tank, don’t panic. Here are some effective methods to annihilate them and reclaim your shrimp habitat.
Manual Removal
Manually removing hydra is tedious but safe for shrimp and snails. Here’s how to do it:
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Use airline tubing attached to a syringe or pipette. Carefully place the tubing opening directly over a hydra.
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Apply suction by pulling back on the syringe. This will uproot the hydra and suck it into the tube.
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Deposit removed hydra into a discard jar filled with tank water.
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Scrutinize decor and glass surfaces to remove every last hydra. They can easily re-attach if any polyps remain.
Repeat daily until no more hydra remain. While very labor intensive, manual removal is gentler on shrimp and avoids medications.
Chemical Treatment
For heavy hydra infestations, chemical control might be needed. Some shrimp-safe products include:
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No-Planaria – Contains betel nut extract to eradicate planaria, hydra and other flatworms. Use half dosage for sensitive shrimp.
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Fenbendazole – Dog dewormer that kills hydra at a dosage of 0.1 mg/L. Fenbendazole may also harm snails.
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Potassium permanganate – Oxidizing agent that destroys hydra at a concentration of 2-5 mg/L. Can stain decor and harm plants.
Remove carbon from filters before using chemicals. Perform partial water changes after treatment to remove medication. Always test dosing on a few shrimp first to check for side effects.
Natural Predators
Adding fish or invertebrates that prey on hydra can provide natural pest control:
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Neon tetras – Small, peaceful fish that won’t harm adult shrimp. They nibble on hydra.
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Killifish – Feed on hydra while largely ignoring shrimp. Select docile species like dwarf killies.
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Snails – Certain snails like rabbit snails and conchs eat nuisance hydra. They also clean algae competing with shrimp for food.
Introduce natural predators gradually and monitor them carefully. Have backup space ready in case any become aggressive toward shrimp.
Preventing Future Hydra Invasions
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to hydra. Here are some tips to keep them out of your tank for good:
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Quarantine all new plants, decor items and tank inhabitants before adding them.
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Disinfect pre-owned decor by boiling or bleaching thoroughly before use.
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Rinse live foods like daphnia to remove any pests clinging to them.
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Dedicate equipment like nets solely for use in your shrimp tank and no others.
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Limit feeding fine powdered foods that allow hydra to proliferate.
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Maintain optimal water quality and minimal waste accumulation. Clean tanks offer less resources for pests.
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Perform routine screening for new hydra and eliminate them promptly. Catching an invasion early makes removal easier.
Hydra present a serious danger to baby shrimp and can harm adult shrimp populations over time. Prevent their entry by carefully sourcing tank additions and quarantining new items. Remove hydra promptly using manual or chemical control. Introducing natural predators can also suppress their numbers. With diligent monitoring and early intervention, you can keep these damaging pests out of your shrimp tank for good.
Green hydras grow algae inside themselves
The green hydra has a very special trick up its sleeve – it can grow its own food.
Their green colour comes from a special type of algae growing inside them.
The algae photosynthesize, and produce nutrients for the hydra to take in.
By working together, they’re both happy. The hydra provides some protection for the algae, and the algae provides food for the hydra.
This is why green hydra can be more of a pain to deal with. It’s a lot harder to starve them when they can grow their own food.
What do hydras eat?
Except for baby shrimp, what else do they eat?
Normally they’ll eat tiny creatures from the water like copepods, worms, and Daphnia (water fleas).
For hydras to grow, a healthy, fully grown tank should have a lot of small animals living in it.
They’ll also eat small particles, like powdered food, if there’s not much other choice.
Common Shrimp Tank Pests and How to Deal With Them – PLANARIA, HYDRA, DETRITUS WORMS AND MORE!
How to get rid of Hydra in shrimp tank?
Big thanks to the Marks Shrimp Tanks for this method. According to him, it can also cure “ Ellobiopsidae or Green fungus “!. “Also, sea salt or iodine-free table salt is supposed to destroy the Hydra. Therefore, you can give 20g on 100 liters of aquarium water. It is not dangerous for plants and shrimps according to the statement of shrimp holders.
How do you get rid of aquarium Hydra?
One effective method to get rid of aquarium hydra is to use an aquarium-safe medication such as Fenbendazole or Praziquantel. These medications can be added to the tank according to the recommended dosage and can kill off hydra within a few days.
How do you remove a Hydra from a tank?
You can definitely remove the odd hydra manually. I used a syringe to scrape the hydra off the glass and suck it up in one movement, but you do need a third hand to hold the torch. Important not to break up the hydra and leave any bits in tank as each will become a new mini-monster.
How to kill a Hydra in an aquarium?
With proper care, your aquarium can recover from a hydra infestation and thrive again. In conclusion, the best way to kill a hydra in an aquarium is to prevent it from growing in the first place. This can be done by maintaining a clean, well-balanced environment with proper filtration and regular water changes.