myrionema hydroids

christyf5 · #1 02-01-2006, 03:43 PM

Has anyone had any success killing these little buggers? I just found a whole wack of them on a rock and they are currently taking out one of my frags.

A pic for those that aren't sure what they look like:

PS. I stole the photo from Sumpfinfishe

Jim Barry · #2 02-01-2006, 03:54 PM

Hi Christy,

Chocolate chip starfish were the only thing I could find that would eat them.

Unfortunately, the cc starfish will eat your zoo's and other things as well.

Hydroids spread like crazy, so get to them before you have a real problem and don't try to pick them off by hand. The stems will float around and attach in other places and make the problem even worse.

Good luck

Willow · #3 02-01-2006, 04:12 PM

i wonder if the dawn power scrub brush might work if you pulled the rock out and mowed them down in some tank water in a bucket. it sure worked on anthellia.

christyf5 · #4 02-01-2006, 04:13 PM

They have their little butts firmly rooted in rock crevasses, I doubt the powerbrush would work when powerwashing obviously didn't

Willow · #5 02-01-2006, 04:18 PM

did you try joes juice?

Jim Barry · #6 02-01-2006, 04:28 PM

I tried Joes Juice on them........ didn't work

Delphinus · #7 02-01-2006, 04:28 PM

Maybe try to epoxy over them. For smaller stands like that it might be worthwhile if it works.

Beverly · #8 02-01-2006, 04:44 PM

So THAT'S what those are

Have some of them in my 37g. Am now interested in methods of getting rid of them as I did not know they were harmful.

christyf5 · #9 02-01-2006, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delphinus

Maybe try to epoxy over them. For smaller stands like that it might be worthwhile if it works.

Yeah, I'll have to try that next, I'm just waiting for this frag to kick off (just in case there is something to salvage). Its the strangest thing, the polyps are out like nobodys business but the tissue is just hanging off the frag. Pretty sad to watch actually.

I also have these other things that I should post, I can't quite tell if they're the beginnings of more hydroids or anthelia. I'll post a pic tonight.

Ruth · #10 02-18-2006, 12:03 PM

Christy did you ever manage to get these things under control. I have one green star polyp rock that is now covered with these things. If I bannish the rock to the sump with that still allow them to spread to my display? I really hate to just toss the rock or epoxy the whole thing as the GSP are really nice ones but OTOH don't want them through my whole display.