Hydra Help Please!!

[gpopp]

I was told that I have hydras in my tank and the best way to get rid of them was a gourami.

I put one in my tank and he does everything but go for the hydras.

Does anybody have any suggestions? I'm afraid if I take all of my fish out for the time it take to heat up the tank and cool it back down, some will die.


Please help, I'm desparate!!

 

[Lateral Line]

>>> Please help, I'm desparate!!

The first point I want to make is that unless they are in a breeding tank with very small fry - hydra are harmless.

There are a 101 different theories and quack remedies for getting rid of hydra, gouramis are supposed to eat them - but I've never seen one do so. Ammonium Nitrate, Copper Sulphate, Quinine Sulphate have all been vaunted as cures - some people swear by them. Others use a battery with copper wires or coins as electrodes, I think it is again, the Copper ions that have the effect.

The most effective way I have come across is using a compound called Fenbendazol. It is a veterinary medicine used mostly to treat gut worms in mammals. A sprinkling of this on the surface of the aquarium wipes out hydra within a week.

I don't know where you are, so can't advise you as to it's availability or brand names. Common ones are "Panacur" and "Flubenol". You will probably need to get it from a vet.

 

[mrV]

Fenbendazol and flubendazol aren't same compound. Flubendazol have been used when medicating animals also fishes (but it's quite difficult using in aquarium, because it doesn't dissolve well). I have seen articles about fenbendazol, but never seen any studies how it affects fish physiology. When using flubendatsol is has to be "dissolved" very well first, because too much causes internal diseases and too little causes resistant bacteria/parasites.

In some countries hobbiests have put flubendatsol without knowing how to apportion it and they have caused parasites which are quite resistant. Now they need to add more flubendazol to get rid of those parasites. But, you need to remember that fishes don't tolerate high flubendazol level either - they die too..

Well knowing "hydra" is propably Chlorohydra viridissima (green or grey species).

 

[Lateral Line]

I know flu and fen bendazol are different - it is simply that flu is generally available in Europe whilst fen is easier to get in the US and I don't know where (s)he is. Both are effective, and would seem to have no effect on the fish, even small fry.

It is certainly true that water solubility is low - but it is enough to be effective against hydra.