Farmpally Allude Hydra Characteristics and Functions

Hydra or the freshwater polyp belongs to the cnidarians (Cnidaria), which also include jellyfish, corals or anemones. 

Unlike most other cnidarians, Hydra has only one stage, that of the polyp.

Two species are particularly common in aquaristics: Hydra vulgaris (white hydra) and Chlorohydra viridis (green hydra), according to chaktty.

The green hydra gets its color from its symbiosis with chlorella algae.

Characteristics of Hydra

Locomotion

Hydra is actually not particularly mobile, but the animals can detach their adhesive disc from the surface when conditions deteriorate and move forward like somersaults –  you can find more about hydra parts and functions to clearly understand this.

To do this, the Hydra bends into a headstand, so to speak, rolls over with the rear end with the adhesive disc and attaches itself again a few millimeters further.

This is repeated until the animal likes the new location. Hydra cover a distance of up to 2 cm in 24 hours. 

Furthermore, the polyp can also form a gas bubble under its adhesive disk and use the buoyancy to go to higher regions.

Reproduction

Hydra reproduces asexually by budding. You can often see the much smaller sprouts sitting on the side of the mother’s body, which eventually pinch off and continue to live independently.

Through sexual reproduction, often under unfavorable conditions (e.g. lack of food), hydra also form permanent eggs, which neither frost nor drought can harm.

A finished permanent egg (ovum) can be recognized as a bright round point on the upper side of the stalk. 

A second permanent egg is formed in the ovary on the underside of the hydra’s stalk; this is already visible as a bright area.

The slight thickening slightly above the ovaries with the permanent eggs is the testicles (testis). This is where the sperm is formed.

The eggs survive frost, heat and drought, and they are so small that they are blown away by the wind; among other things, this is how hydra get into our aquariums – literally out of the blue.

How does the hydra get into the aquarium?

Hydra can be brought into the aquarium through conventionally produced plants, or through plants and decorations from aquariums with hydra infestation.

Likewise by plants and decorative materials from natural waters, with pond food and with frozen food, but also by the permanent eggs in the air, which are part of the natural dust.

Regeneration ability

Hydra knows no old age death. Because these cnidarians contain an incredible amount of stem cells, their tissues are constantly being renewed, according to farmpally.

A freshwater polyp fully regenerates once in five days. So a hydra only dies from cataclysm, never from old age.

The special abilities of the freshwater polyp are reflected in its scientific name: in Greek mythology, Hydra is a snake-like monster with several heads.

If you cut off one head, two grow back. The situation is very similar with Hydra in our aquariums. As little as 1/200th of a polyp can regenerate into a full polyp.

Polyps that have separated can even easily reunite, or each piece becomes a new animal.

For this reason, mechanical removal such as scraping or sucking off the polyps from the aquarium does not make sense.

If only a tiny part breaks off from the animal, a complete freshwater polyp grows out of it again. If you crush the animal, a new Hydra grows out of every piece.