Hydra?

[Jer-]

Hi

I just found a white little thing with tentacles on one of my plant leaves. I think it might be Hydra, i remember cos one of my old friends had it in his tank a long time ago. I am now hardly in touch with him so i cannot ask him for more info.

Does anyone know anything about these little buggers? Its really small, about 3 mm in total length including the tentacles... there are about 5 tentacles that wave around. Are they harmful? does this mean my water is contaminated?

thanks

 

[Synirr]

That does indeed sound like a hydra, does it look like this? As long as you don't have any extremely small fry you've got nothing to worry about; the fish might actually eat it should they happen to spot it. Hydras do have a sting but it's pretty insignificant to anything larger than half a centimeter

 

[Jer-]

thanks synirr thats good news.

The smallest fish ive got are probably my cardinals.