An hydra @ Work

[MaloK]

While waiting for my plants to arrive, I caught this today, while looking at the tank.

 

[Magnum Man]

Wow… that was particularly cool… assuming those are in competition with your fish for food

 

[MaloK]

It sure tried to bite off more than it can chew a couple times this week. But this morning it has a big fat belly.

 

[GaryE]

Rainbow fry are a favourite food for them. Most fry avoid them, but rainbows decorate Hydra like they're predatory Christmas trees.

 

[MaloK]

The toxin used by hydra to paralyze its prey is called a hypnotoxin. It's a type of neurotoxin that disrupts the nervous system of the prey, causing paralysis. They have stinging cells called nematocysts that contain the hypnotoxin. When a hydra brushes against its prey, the nematocysts fire tiny barbed threads that inject the toxin into their prey. The toxin then works quickly to paralyze and killing, making it easier for the hydra to capture and consume it.

It's fun to see in the video, how it seems to anticipate the movement of the seed shrimp and catches it by it's antennas. Then the way it still tries to put "something" in it's mouth after it flew away.

The poor seed shrimp was dead before it touched the bottom of the tank after freeing itself.