Hydra - Green or Brown

Genus: Hydra
Family: Hydridae
Order: Hydroida
Class: Hydrozoa
Phylum: Cnidaria
Kingdom: Animalia

Conditions for Customer Ownership

We hold permits allowing us to transport these organisms. To access permit conditions, click here. Never purchase living specimens without having a disposition strategy in place. There are currently no USDA permits required for this organism. Do not release into the environment.

Availability

Hydra are available year round since we culture them in our labs. Our Hydra cultures are shipped in plastic jars containing water. We over-pack each order of Hydra. It is normal to have some deceased Hydra in the container. You will receive at least the quantity of live Hydra stated on the container. Upon arrival, immediately remove the lid and gently aerate the culture using a small pipet. Replace the lid loosely and maintain at room temperature. Do not place in direct sunlight. If you are planning on using your culture at a later date, you may store it in the refrigerator with the cap loose. The Hydra can live in this jar for about two days if stored in the refrigerator.

Captive Care

Habitat:

Hydra can be kept in an aerated aquarium, tub, or small glass container such as a culture dish. Hydra are very sensitive to water conditions. Water temperature should be kept between 18°C–21°C (65–70°F), and the pH should be at 7.5–8. The water should be well aerated; this is commonly accomplished with the use of an airstone powered by an air pump. Spring or bottled water is ideal for the Hydra. Never put Hydra in chlorinated tap water or distilled water. If tap water is used, treat it with a Water Conditioner 88 W 7100 or allow it to sit for at least 48 hours before introducing the Hydra. If a filtration system has been set up for the container, water changes are only necessary every one to two weeks. A basic sponge filter would works well in caring for Hydra. If a filtration system has not been set up, water changes must be conducted daily. Water that is cloudy or foul should be removed and replaced with spring or bottled water.
Hydra are carnivorous and eat live food only. They should be fed daily; good food sources include Brine Shrimp Larvae 87 W 5102 and Daphnia 87 W 5200. The food can be added directly to the water. Start the feeding at one pipet of food, then adjust the feeding according to how quickly the food is eaten or how much food is left in the bottom of the container.
Green Hydra have a symbiotic relationship with chlorella. Because this algae is photosynthetic, green Hydra can survive for several weeks without food as long as they have adequate light. It is still necessary for green Hydra to be fed brine shrimp larvae or daphnia for long-term health.

Information

Method of reproduction: Hydra usually reproduce asexually, by budding. Hydra can also reproduce sexually, but this is much less common. Differentiation must be induced by environmental factors for this to occur. Some species are hermaphroditic and others have separate males and females.
Determining Sex: Sexing Hydra is difficult, although it can be done with the use of a microscope to identify the testes and ovaries.

Life Cycle

Given the right conditions, budding will occur and Hydra can be held almost indefinitely.

Wild Habitat

Hydra can be found in freshwater streams, ponds, and lakes in both temperate and tropical regions.

Disposition

In order to protect our environment, do not release this organism into the wild. When you are done with your Hydra, add bleach to the culture and dump it down the drain.