Hydra?

I'm a little confused, not long ago my tank underwent some salt water treatment for an illness, yet, two weeks later I have hydra all along the bottom of my tank, they're roughly 1-2mm in size. I've also noted small white critters near the waters surface, though they're that small I can't identify them they're smaller than 1mm.

The only recent additions/changes to the tank is temperature (increased to 27c) and the filter. Though let it be noted the filter was changed when Shoto underwent salt bath treatment. Am I right in thinking that the salt treatment should have killed Hydra in the tank?

I've been trying to get a picture of the hydra just in case I misidentified them, though my camera isn't picking them up clearly. I'm quite sure they are hydra as I don't know what else looks like this. They remind me a little bit of dandelion parachute things (the flowers you blew as a child). I understand these are mainly dangerous towards small fry and fish. How dangerous are they to Shoto (betta)? How would I get rid of them?

I've heard cranking the heat up to 40c and leaving it for several hours will kill them, but the only other tank I have is a one gallon and my cats can open doors so putting Shoto in a bucket isn't a feasible idea either.

a high enough dose (2 heaped tablespoons per 20 litres of water) of salt should kill hydra but need pictures to confirm they are hydra.

I did a little digging last night, and I inspected the potential hydra a little further and I think I jumped to conclusions. Now with a sober mind on the case I believe that they are a form of bryozoa, as for the other smaller critters I have no idea.

I apologise for the quality of the pictures but taking photo's of microscopic things isn't my forte, in fact, I'm not even good at taking pictures of large objects haha.

Fenbendazole (Safeguard dog de-wormer) will kill the hydra overnight. Dose at 0.1 gram per 10 gallons. It will not harm the Betta or any other fish.

Are the pictures good enough to establish what they are? their numbers seem to be increasing rapidly.

I've added some Cattana leaves (not sure if I spelt that right) and a coconut shell to the tank. Which has really improved Shoto's wellbeing, though I have a feeling it's bolstered these little critters too.

I thought they were Bryozoa but aren't they meant to "combine" with each other? so far they seem to be keeping their distance.

@Colin_T 's treatment for hydra should also work for other similar microorganisms. Your pictures aren't clear enough for a definite identification, but if you look with a good magnifying glass and look at hydra images on-line, you'll be able to see if that's what they really are.

Their "tentacles" aren't as long as a hydra's and there seem to be a lot more of them (tentacles) too. They seem to bea lot smaller than Hydra's also, I've heard Hydra's can grow up to an inch? these are teeny.

I can't find anything other than bryozoa that fits their description, I know they are filter feeders of some description. I'll take a closer look on the net or something and see what I can dig up. I would offer a better picture but my phone just wont pick them up.

Is this what you're looking at?

Shiverz said:

I've heard Hydra's can grow up to an inch? these are teeny.

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That is so wrong it's ridiculous! Someone's been telling you fairy stories.

The image I've posted is of a cyclops...which is harmless and makes for good eating.

Bruce Leyland-Jones said:

That is so wrong it's ridiculous! Someone's been telling you fairy stories.

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damned internet. (I should've known better)

Bruce Leyland-Jones said:

The image I've posted is of a cyclops...which is harmless and makes for good eating.

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I'm pretty sure it's not a cyclops, I just took about loads of pictures and managed to get this.

These are hydras :

A tiny daphnia species?



Or a 'seed shrimp', seen sideways on?

Vorticella! Now I just need to know if these are harmful or not

Bruce Leyland-Jones said:

A tiny daphnia species?

View attachment 142506

Or a 'seed shrimp', seen sideways on?

View attachment 142507

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These guys don't move, they just sway in the water hence why my drunk self thought they were hydra when I first saw them

Freshwater limpet?