What are these creepy creatures growing in my tank!?

[baconnlegs]

I peered into my tank to find these critters sprouting off of a plant today (with just one alone, on the glass). They have sort of a tree-like structure, with a flesh-coloured stump and long, thin, tentacles that wave in the current. When poked, the tentacles shrink back into the stump completely. They don't seem all that capable of moving around on their own. What are they? In 15 years of fresh/bracking fishkeeping, I've never seen one. Should I be worried? Where did they come from?

Here are some tank stats:

10 g
~75F
freshwater
stock: betta, 2 kuhli loaches, 5 small apple snails, MTS, pond snails, 20 red cherry shrimp
EcoComplete substrate

[Rainbowfish Alan]

I think they're called hydra and can be damaging to fry and shrimp. Google to be sure.

[baconnlegs]

Eww... Looks like that's it. Does anyone have experience with these? From what I see online, pond snails, paradise gourami, and mollies will eat them. True?

[fin]

paradise can get very aggressive , mollies do not do very well in fresh water , I would say snails are your best bet but don't forget you may get a pond snail problem meaning they will be hard to get rid of once they start breeding

[Admin]

wow I've never seen anything like that

[fin]

yes they do sting by the way so you do not want to keep any sensitive fish with them

[gabor129]

Some background on Hydra! They need the light to do good!, they will survive in low light, but they prefer the higher light! Also they move around the tank to find ideal site to reproduce!
With that said what I would do is put a piece of glass in 45 degree angle on one side of the tank and block the light from the other side. once the Hydra moved to the glass remove the glass and discard the hydra! It might take 4 - 6 days to get them all but it works! Also if you wait until more of the Hydra is on the glass it is likely to attract the others there too!

[gabor129]

Here is something I read before but just found again!

www.planetinverts.com/killing_planaria_and_hydra.html

[lisachromis]

That's hydra. Usually a sign you're feeding too much live food (like brine shrimp). The easiest way to get rid of them is to use 1/2 strength fluke tabs.

[baconnlegs]

Oh boy, ok. I DID notice they tend to crowd a) on the front glass, and b) on some Rotala in the back - there were so many, I thought they were hair-like roots.

The issue with the glass pane fix is, I don't really have room due to the layout of the tank, rocks etc :/ My pond snails haven't made a dent in the population (or the apple nails. or the MTS). So I was thinking something chemical. Now, any parasite I've ever dealt with has kicked off after water changes/heat/salinity changes. This one is a new challenge though. From what I read online, some people have used Panacur and Safe Guard (yes, dog parasite meds), bu I bought Parasite Guard from Petsmart...without reading the back of course (rookie mistake). Turns out it's not compatible with shrimp.

So, are fluke tabs ok to use with shrimp? and is there a particular brand I should look for/store that sells them? I've got Aqua Animania and Pet Valu within biking distance here.

Also, I usually feed frozen blood worms, sometimes a frozen marine mix (mainly shrimp-like creatures). Should I hold off a bit, or just feed the larger-sized bloodworms for now, to avoid nourishing the hydra too?
And would increasing the temp/decreasing photoperiod/adding marine salt make any difference with these things?
Thanks!

[Stellar]

just found this link....
www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=138276

which led me to:


www.theshrimptank.com/spixi-snail/ They eat hydra!

EDIT** they do eat plants too.. Panacur is probably your best bet

[Rainbowfish Alan]

I had 2 or 3 shortly after I set up my shrimp tank. I physically removed them from the glass and havnt seen them again since. Sorry I can't be of more help.

[lisachromis]

Actually, I have no idea if fluke tabs will affect shrimp. Doing a quick search showed me that it will.

ovas.ca/forum/index.php?topic=23084.15;wap2

Sorry, didn't realize you had shrimp in there. You may just have to cut your feeding way down for a while and starve the hydra away.

[baconnlegs]

According to the Petsmart US site, it looks like they should at least carry Safe Guard. I'll update this once I've treated!

[Stellar]

YOu should be able to find Fenbendazole (aka Panacur/Safeguard)) at a farm supply like "essex feed store" or maybe TSC it's a common dewormer for farm animals. However petsmart or pet value even should have it. There is online places too, but shipping meds (drugs) is $$$$.