136 replies to this topic

[itsme]

The white things are cyclops.  You got fish in there?  Plenty of food for them.  The Hydra are living off that stuff.  Hydra are not a problem in my estimation unless you've got tiny fry you're worried about.  Still though you're only going to lose a very small percentage.  As I have heard, the treatments for Hydra are worse than the disease.  Stop feeding live micro feeds and let them die.  They can also live on cyclops and other tiny invertebrates (Protozoans too?) so reducing the population of those will help.  The presence of those foods is what leads to Hydra.  Used to have them in my Oscar fry tanks when I fed lots of live baby Brine. They LOVE that stuff!

[gerald]

Since Elassoma need tiny live foods, Hydra are more of a problem than they are for most other fish.  I would try and kill the Hydra.  Flubendazole works (and is pretty fish-safe) and there are other traetments too.  Hydra may end up killing all or most of the Elassoma fry.  Multiple stings from Hydra can weaken and kill Elassoma fry even if they dont actually get eaten.

[itsme]

Since Elassoma need tiny live foods, Hydra are more of a problem than they are for most other fish.  I would try and kill the Hydra.  Flubendazole works (and is pretty fish-safe) and there are other traetments too.  Hydra may end up killing all or most of the Elassoma fry.  Multiple stings from Hydra can weaken and kill Elassoma fry even if they dont actually get eaten.

 

Gerald's probably right!  He knows this stuff!

[itsme]

Still though, there must be excess food that the Hydra are feeding on, so maybe try managing that as an approach to remedying it, until/if you're going to go Medieval on the Hydra.  I'm not opposed to that, I just prefer minimal intervention for efficiency's sake in my own tanks.  What I would probably do is set up a new tank and move the fish there until the Hydra die off.

[Cricket]

Since Elassoma need tiny live foods, Hydra are more of a problem than they are for most other fish.  I would try and kill the Hydra.  Flubendazole works (and is pretty fish-safe) and there are other traetments too.  Hydra may end up killing all or most of the Elassoma fry.  Multiple stings from Hydra can weaken and kill Elassoma fry even if they dont actually get eaten.

Still though, there must be excess food that the Hydra are feeding on, so maybe try managing that as an approach to remedying it, until/if you're going to go Medieval on the Hydra.  I'm not opposed to that, I just prefer minimal intervention for efficiency's sake in my own tanks.  What I would probably do is set up a new tank and move the fish there until the Hydra die off.

Well I found two living fry and 1 not so living I moved them to another tank and put my wood in with my platys and 3 spot. They have been cleaning it ever since. I got some prazipro last night and treated the tank with the worst of it. I think the problem is the banana worms. I'm pretty sure I way over Fed them. The brine is not baby it's adult brine so I think the banana worms are the lure. I will stop using them a while but not really sure how to feed fry without feeding hydra :/

I guess I'm gonna have to think.

[Chasmodes]

I guess I'm gonna have to think.

 

That's a good step forward, one that I often forget.  

[Cricket]

That's a good step forward, one that I often forget.  

Lol. I'll think but it also means feel free to throw in your thoughts as well

[itsme]

Yes, feeding fry while not feeding Hydra is a problem not easily solved.  That's why moving the fish to a different tank might be most expedient.

[gerald]

Once the hydra are killed, you're hydra-free until you reintroduce them somehow.  They do not spontaneously generate, and I'm pretty sure they do NOT live in cans of dry BS eggs as some have claimed.  It just seems like they do, because that's often when aquarists notice Hydra after they start feeding fresh-hatched BS.  Also marine hydroids do not change into freshwater Hydra!   Starving the Hydra is not going to happen in a tank with fish.  Even if you stop feeding all live foods, the Hydra will survive eating the Cyclops, nematodes, and other tiny critters than in turn feed on fish food or fish poop.

[itsme]

Once the hydra are killed, you're hydra-free until you reintroduce them somehow.  They do not spontaneously generate, and I'm pretty sure they do NOT live in cans of dry BS eggs as some have claimed.  It just seems like they do, because that's often when aquarists notice Hydra after they start feeding fresh-hatched BS.  Also marine hydroids do not change into freshwater Hydra!   Starving the Hydra is not going to happen in a tank with fish.  Even if you stop feeding all live foods, the Hydra will survive eating the Cyclops, nematodes, and other tiny critters than in turn feed on fish food or fish poop.

 

 

Probably come in on plants.  Do hydra encyst?

[gerald]

From what i've read in Thorp & Covich, adults and asexual buds cannot encyst (they die if dried), but sexually-produced eggs can lie dormant in dried mud.  Like Daphnia, they reproduce asexually most of the time, but when conditions turn bad (food supply, water quality, temp) then they switch to sexual reproduction and can make resting eggs.   Maybe PHIL NIXON might have more info on this?

[itsme]

From what i've read in Thorp & Covich, adults and asexual buds cannot encyst (they die if dried), but sexually-produced eggs can lie dormant in dried mud.  Like Daphnia, they reproduce asexually most of the time, but when conditions turn bad (food supply, water quality, temp) then they switch to sexual reproduction and can make resting eggs.   Maybe PHIL NIXON might have more info on this?

 

That's awesome!  Adaptability!  Maybe that's ultimately what sex is for.

[Cricket]

 
Probably come in on plants.  Do hydra encyst?

Once the hydra are killed, you're hydra-free until you reintroduce them somehow.  They do not spontaneously generate, and I'm pretty sure they do NOT live in cans of dry BS eggs as some have claimed.  It just seems like they do, because that's often when aquarists notice Hydra after they start feeding fresh-hatched BS.  Also marine hydroids do not change into freshwater Hydra!   Starving the Hydra is not going to happen in a tank with fish.  Even if you stop feeding all live foods, the Hydra will survive eating the Cyclops, nematodes, and other tiny critters than in turn feed on fish food or fish poop.

so if I occasionally swap plants around then I would need to zap all my tanks? Even if it's just planting tweezers or nets? Also I could have introduced them into my cultures couldn't I? By swishing my paintbrush in the water and then back into my culture? I'm worried that I may need to scrap my banana worms. They wouldn't be living in a white worm culture would they? Moist soil at 55°? This could definitely be a possible cause of no fry especially since I've seen 1 dead fry and 2 living. I know she is making babies. I'm sure it could also be parents and tank mates. I want to add another tank for them but land sakes I'm running out of space and I have enough ocd that I can't really just leave one on the ground.
I just got a 3 Or 4 gallon bowl to raise black worms in. I was hoping to throw in some shrimp too. If I did would okee fry be ok In there? I have never had shrimp before.

Also check this out. I ordered some plants from a friend and she sent me the kraken for my 120 😂

Edited by Cricket, 19 October 2017 - 02:48 PM.

[gerald]

No, i dont think Hydra would live long in a microworm, banana, or whiteworm culture; they are aquatic.  You're most likely to spread them tank-to-tank on wood, plants, in water, etc.   Shrimp: some kinds are safe with tiny fry, some are not.  Grass/glass shrimp are NOT safe.  Cherries and their other color forms are usually OK.

[Cricket]

I used a dog dewormer on my native tanks and my two betta tanks and my community tank that's below the natives as they all share utensils and plants. Do you think I need to do round 2 on day 4 or 5 or is a round 2 necessary. It's hard to get info on this topic. I also got another 20 long For these guys AND got 3 more females from Mark so here's my current stocking

10g original tank
1 mature male Charlie
1 juvenile female (new)
1 mature female Diamond

10g newer tank
1 mature male Hunk
1 mature female (new)

20g breeder
1 mature male Grey
1 mature female (new)
1 juvenile male Jr
1 juvenile female Sissy

[Cricket]

Oh I also started new banana cultures carefully. Just to be on the safe side

[itsme]

Looking good!

[Chasmodes]

Nice looking tanks!

[Cricket]

Nice looking tanks!

Looking good!

Thank you

[Cricket]

I made another video cause I'm a nerd but @Gerald you should check out the ovaries on Diamond in this video! They are massive. Do they hold on to them for a while sometimes? Today she's looking quite normal
https://youtu.be/1xXaC1TzMXQ