Ever spotted tiny tentacled creatures that look like mini jellyfish in your shrimp tank? Those are hydras, and while they might look fascinating, they’re not exactly the neighbors you want for your shrimp family! I’ve dealt with these pesky creatures multiple times in my shrimp tanks, and I’m here to share everything you need to know about getting rid of them.
What Are Hydras and Why Should You Care?
Hydras are small freshwater polyps (usually white or green) that can grow up to 3cm in length. Think of them as tiny stick figures with jellyfish-like tentacles. But here’s the scary part – they’re practically immortal! These little monsters can:
- Split themselves in half every 2-3 days to reproduce
- Live forever by constantly renewing their cells
- Sting and eat small creatures, including baby shrimp
- Survive several days without water
- Live weeks without food (especially green hydras that can photosynthesize)
Are Hydras Really Dangerous to Your Shrimp?
Let’s be real – adult shrimp are usually fine around hydras They might get an occasional sting and dart away, but it’s not life-threatening. However, baby shrimp are a different story
- Their shells aren’t hard enough to protect them
- They’re small enough to fit in a hydra’s mouth
- They’re more vulnerable to hydra’s stings
How to Get Rid of Hydra: 4 Proven Methods
1. Manual Removal
This is the safest but most time-consuming method. Here’s my tried-and-tested technique:
- Turn up your filter flow
- Stop feeding powdered foods
- Wait for hydras to gather on tank walls
- Use airline tubing and syringe to vacuum them out
- Repeat daily until all visible hydras are gone
Pro tip: Press the tubing firmly against the glass when vacuuming to get the whole hydra in one piece!
2. Chemical Treatments
Several shrimp-safe options are available:
- No-Planaria powder
- Planaria Zero
- SL-Aqua Bio Protector Z1
- Fenbendazole (dog dewormer)
Warning: These treatments will likely kill your snails! From my experience, it took almost a year before my tank was safe for snails again after using fenbendazole.
3. Natural Control Methods
- Add Spixi snails (they eat hydra)
- Introduce small fish like micro-rasboras
- Use neon tetras (but be careful, they might snack on baby shrimp too!)
4. Alternative Solutions
- Hydrogen peroxide treatment (1.5ml per gallon)
- Seachem Excel (though less effective)
- Aquarium salt (2mg per liter, but use cautiously)
Prevention Tips
Don’t wanna deal with hydras again? Here’s what I do to keep them away
-
Food Management:
- Don’t overfeed powdered foods
- Use feeding dishes
- Mix up food types (include solid foods)
-
New Additions:
- Boil hardscape materials
- Sterilize new plants
- Quarantine new fish/shrimp
-
Equipment Care:
- Avoid sharing tools between tanks
- Clean all decorations thoroughly
- Regular tank maintenance
The Bottom Line
Having hydras in your shrimp tank isn’t the end of the world, but it’s definitely something you’ll want to address, especially if you’re breeding shrimp I’ve found that combining methods – like manual removal with reduced feeding – works best for long-term control
Remember, patience is key! These immortal little buggers can be stubborn, but with consistent effort and the right approach, you can definitely win this battle. Trust me, I’ve been there!
Need more specific advice about your hydra situation? Drop a comment below – I’d love to help fellow shrimp keepers tackle this common problem!
How do hydras get into the tank?
They’re really good at hiding on hardscape materials or new plants you add to your tank.
Avoiding hydra is a great reason to properly clean and prepare new hardscape pieces. With a bit of preparation, you can keep your tank hydra free.
Are hydras dangerous for shrimp?
Adult shrimp won’t be too bothered by hydra in their tank. They might get the occasional sting and dart away, but nothing major.
Don’t panic if you see a couple of hydras in your tank. You want to keep their numbers low, but it’s not an emergency.
You may get rare cases where old or sick shrimp get stung and attacked by hydra, but this doesn’t happen often.
Baby shrimp, however, are much more vulnerable to hydra.
How to Get Rid of Hydra the EASY Way
FAQ
Are hydra harmful to shrimp?
Hydra are mostly harmless, but they will catch and eat tiny shrimp fry. Since they are in your shrimp tank, that may be an issue. Tavarise Lowe they may get a shrimplet or two, but not all of them. There are treatments for them but they are not shrimp safe.
How to dispose of hydra?
Disposing of Hydra: Avoid putting live Hydra down the drain. Collect all medium containing Hydra in a container and add household bleach at 10% the total volume of the medium. Wait for 10 minutes, then pour down the drain.
How to treat a tank for hydra?
If hydra are sitting on the aquarium’s panes, it is possible to scrape them off using a bladed window cleaner and suck them away using a hose. Better and more practical than plucking them off is the method of fogging them with Easy Carbo, lemon juice, hot water or even hydrogen peroxide.
Will hydrogen peroxide kill hydra?
With the electrons being stolen, the cell wall gets damaged and the bacterium dies. This is also how hydrogen peroxide bleaches hair and cloth. We can use this property to kill Hydra.
How to remove Hydra from a shrimp tank?
According to Marks Shrimp Tanks, sea salt or iodine-free table salt can destroy Hydra. To treat a 100-liter shrimp tank, add 20g of salt. This method is not harmful to plants and shrimps, as stated by shrimp holders.
What is Hydra & how do I remove it?
Hydra is a fascinating freshwater organism that may appear in an aquarium ecosystem. Learn how to naturally remove them without harming your fish & shrimp.
How do I get rid of hydras in my Aquarium?
Consider target feeding the fish or using feeding dishes for shrimp to prevent the food from spreading throughout the aquarium. Also, regular water changes and gravel vacuuming to remove excess food will help decrease the population to unnoticeable levels. Another natural removal method is to add predators to eat the hydra.
Can you add fish to a Hydra tank?
Some small fish can be kept with shrimp too. Neon Tetras are one example, but there’s always going to be a risk of your shrimp being eaten too. Don’t add fish to your tank purely to eat the hydra. But, if you were thinking about trying to add some fish, this might be a bonus for you.
What if I see a few hydras in my tank?
Don’t panic if you see a couple of hydras in your tank. You want to keep their numbers low, but it’s not an emergency. You may get rare cases where old or sick shrimp get stung and attacked by hydra, but this doesn’t happen often. Baby shrimp, however, are much more vulnerable to hydra.
Do hydras Sting shrimp?
Adult shrimp won’t be too bothered by hydra in their tank. They might get the occasional sting and dart away, but nothing major. Don’t panic if you see a couple of hydras in your tank. You want to keep their numbers low, but it’s not an emergency.