What Are These White Worms / Growths Appearing In Tank?

[davidjp1982]

Can anyone please shed some light on what these white creatures / things are growing on the glass and substrate of my grow out tank? I've seen them before when I was growing out Corydoras fry and I assume they are caused by overfeeding of a small 10 gallon tank? Any help appreciated - many thanks.
 

 

[dave840f1]

Hi, I believe they are Amoeba which are single called aquatic protozoan.

 

[KirkyArcher]

They are actually Hydra 

 
http/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydra_(genus)

 

[Ch4rlie]

Whats a Hydra?
 
Do these do any harm in a fish tank?
 
If these are harmful to the tank somehow, how would you get rid of them?
 
Sorry if these are silly questions, just interested and not seen these before.
 
BTW I don't trust Wikipedia truth be told so did not even look at your link!  

 

[ech0o]

Think of them like anemone in a saltwater aquarium.  They have a sticky foot on one end, tentacles on the other end, and will grow to sizes where they are able to eat fry and small fish.  They have stinging cells in their tentacles much like an anemone too.

 

[KirkyArcher]

Link was intended as just a general insight into the hydra that's readily available, do a search on other sites for more info will tell you pretty much the same info as Wiki

http/freshaquarium.about.com/od/problemsolving/p/How-To-Combat-The-Aquarium-Pest-Hydra.htm

 

[Ch4rlie]

Wow!
 
I thought looked kinda cute in kirky's picture, kinda like a wee cartoon stick man.......
 
So, is it best to get rid of them then?
 
How?
 
 

Link was intended as just a general insight into the hydra that's readily available, do a search on other sites for more info will tell you pretty much the same info as Wiki

 
Sorry kirky, was being lazy!......

 

[Skal]

I have had some of those before I think.  I just used the rid ich plus solution, and it kills stuff just like that.  The solution can kill shrimp or other invertebrates so read instructions carefully.  
 
Don't be confused by the name rid ich it's used for many different things. 

 

[ADW1988]

I have had some of those before I think.  I just used the rid ich plus solution, and it kills stuff just like that.  The solution can kill shrimp or other invertebrates so read instructions carefully.  
 
Don't be confused by the name rid ich it's used for many different things. 

 
I have no experience at all with these so purely, Just out of interest. Instead of using the medication, can they not just be removed, or are they likely to keep growing if they're not treated? Just to save putting meds into water.

 

[ech0o]

http/zooclub.ru/eng/aqua/19.shtml
 
a bit of history on the hydra

 

[ech0o]

I did some digging, it seems copper based medications, salt, and de-worming medications are all able to be used on these guys.   Even just the amount of salt your told to dose on the aquarium salt package is enough to wipe these guys out as they are extremely salt intolerant.
 
You can let them grow, the body of the creature gets to about 1" long, in which case they are able to catch fish about their length, possibly larger.  If something happens and the creature is damaged, or split, both pieces will grow back into a full hydra.  I believe ANY pieces that fragment will grow which is how they spread so easily.

 

[Wildbetta]

Yep def hydra.  I had a massive outbreak in my shrimp tank earlier in the year. In a tank with bigger fish, I never would concern myself with them since they really will not do any harm but in a tank with fry, shrimp, or really small fish/inverts it is not a good idea to leave them alone.  They can kill and eat something around 3 times their size which makes them very harmful for fry.  I tried all kinds of remedies for my outbreak with them.  Mollies and various snails are supposed to eat them but I didn't see a big reduction when I added either.  I also tried a parasite med for the tank with no success.  I eventually removed everything from the tank and washed it down with hydrogen peroxide which did the trick.  I soaked the decor, filter, and heater in a bath of 1:3 (H2O2: water), dipped the plants in a similar mixture, and washed the sides of the tank with similar mixture.    
 
Be extra careful to wash anything that goes in the tank with the hydra in a solution with either bleach or H2O2 mixed with water because any time the hydra are broken they attach to anything they come across which can then spread them to your other tanks.

 

[davidjp1982]

Thanks for all the info - I did as heavy a tank clean as I could with fry present and removed 99% of the hydra I'm not going to dose any meds with the fry I'm going to wait until this batch has grown out and then nuke the tank. Speaking to another apisto breeder I gather that when feeding almost exclusively BBS hydra are almost always present but can be managed. He recommended fendbendazole powder to treat the hydra should they get out of control.