Aiptasia on Tridacnid shell

[rcemanon]

I just noticed that my 4" Tridacnid clam has a Aiptasia anemone attached to its shell. The Aiptasia tenacles are touching the mantle which seems to be retracked at the point of contact. This is the first Aiptasia I have had in the tank.

Any suggestions on how to detach the Aiptasia from the Tridacnid? The clam has bonded in the live rock crevice and hopefully I can remove the Aiptasia without disturbing the clam very much.

Can I cut the Aiptasia with scissors or a knife or will I just be propogating them?

Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
rcemanon

 

[ezcompany]

epoxy putty
joes juice
kalk paste
peppermint shrimp

 

[acrodave]

scrub it off with a toothbrush u can do it out of the tank

 

[reefkoi]

if you have to do it in the tank, I'd use a sharp pointed knife and scrape it away, be sure to get it out swiftly, dont want a bunch of spores to get out and turn into many apt. I'd probably hit the area where it was with some kalk paste or joes juice also, They have a nasty habit of coming back even though you scrape what you'll think is 100% of the anemone.
I buy joes juice all the time, its the best thing I have found for these things.

 

[rcemanon]

Thanks to all that replied. I really appreciate everyone's help.

Well guys, you were right about Joes' Juice. I picked some up at the LFS and was able to "feed" the Aiptasia. Boy, it doesn't take long to do in the little buggers. That would have sucked to have lost a clam to one of those pests.

Again, thanks.

rcemanon