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Freshwater Aiptasia? Almost As Bad.... Hydra! - 04/29/2006
Hi Crew,
<Hi, Monte!>
I have a question, Is there such a thing as Fresh Water Aiptasia?
<No, but I know EXACTLY where this is going.>
I have what appears to be several small Aiptasia on my plants and tank walls.
The main single body is green and it has about four to five tentacles on top.
They are to small right now for a good picture but as soon as I can get one I
will forward one to you.
<No need, I can tell you precisely what they are from your description. If I'm
wrong on this, I'll buy you a drink (but you'll have to come to Santa Cruz to
cash in on it!). They're Hydra.>
Also I have some very small flea looking bugs down around the gravel, they're
white, oval and very fast, they don't seem to be hurting anything just wondering
what they might be and if I should try to eradicate them.
<Not sure on these, perhaps Daphnia or Moina.... there are VERY many small
invertebrates that fit this description. They're probably completely harmless.>
Here are the tank inhabitance:
75gal planted tank
These are the only survivors of many fish, (Too many, Too fast, Too quick).
<You've learned your lesson, I trust?>
Two silver hatchets
Two Otos
<When/if the Hydra "take over", the Otos may suffer "stings" from them.>
Plants:
Duckweed
Java Fearn
Dwarf Sagittaria
Anubias Barteri
Vallisneria Spiralis
Cryptocoryne Wendtii, Red
I'm working on getting it ready for four to five Discus and a school of about 30
Cardinal tetras. It's been running for about three months now and I've been back
and forth with algae blooms.
<To be expected with new-ish tanks.>
I believe I have that under control as of now, but it will be a few more months
before I purchase the Discus and Cardinals as I'm waiting on two large pieces of
Malaysian drift wood.
<Sounds nice.>
Any help would be much appreciated.
<I, personally, would eliminate the Hydra for a few reasons. For one, you can't
share plants with folks who don't want Hydra. For two, those Otos may suffer
for 'em. For three, the discus may have trouble with their young getting
damaged or killed by Hydra, should they choose to reproduce. Please take a look
here to find my experience with eradicating Hydra with Fenbendazole: http://wetwebfotos.com/talk/thread.jsp?forum=46&thread=10186&message=83268
(incidentally, I'm "vintage_fish" in the forum.)>
Keep up the great work.
<Thanks, mate!>
Monte
<Wishing you well, -Sabrina>
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Freshwater things
- 01/09/2006
Not sure if you can help without a picture; recently some little (1/4"-) things
growing on the wall of the aquarium. they look like a cross between a tube worm
and anemone (sp?)- little tube like body with 5 arms waving in the
currents. any ideas?
>> It is a freshwater invertebrate called Hydra, it is harmless for larger fish
but will eat and kill small fry. You should be able to get rid of them by not
feeding your fish for 4-5 days. If you have many of them you may be overfeeding
your fish.
Good Luck, Oliver
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