Anemone, I think. What IS this thing?

[Tune a fish]

Hi, all. I noticed this thing not long ago and they're starting to sprout up all over. The hell is it!? I didn't buy it and put it there. It's like rivers in Tucson....they just happen! Should I get rid of them? The whatever-they-are's. I'm stuck with the flash floods occasionally...

 

[D-Nak]

Aiptasia -- pest anemone -- get rid of it ASAP.

 

[Tune a fish]

K. Where'd it come from? How do I keep em from coming back?

 

[Brieninsac]

I've found Red Sea's Aiptasia-X works great and killing them.

 

[m0nkie]

K. Where'd it come from? How do I keep em from coming back?

came from something you bought wet. coral, rock, etc... you need to QT or scrape them off the frags/rocks

it will spread if you don't take care of it.

1) aiptasia-X seem to work on tiny ones. But if you don't do it right, they will multiply before dying, infesting your tank worse.

2) inverts like peppermint shrimp (female work best), or Berghia Nudibranch (need a lot of them)

3) some fish eat them. File Fish. Butterfly. etc..

 

[Tune a fish]

Thanks, all. I'm a bit of a noob and can use all the advice I can get!

 

[Sanhanmar]

Peppermint Shrimp went to town in my tank when I first spotted the aiptasia.

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[ssick92]

I have always used Aiptasia-X for them and it works like a charm. In response to m0nkie above, it is virtually impossible to "not do it right" with aiptasia-X. Just use the syringe that it comes with and squirt it right into the aiptasia's mouth. Done.

Supposedly Joe's Juice works too, but I haven't ever used it.

 

[m0nkie]

I have always used Aiptasia-X for them and it works like a charm. In response to m0nkie above, it is virtually impossible to "not do it right" with aiptasia-X. Just use the syringe that it comes with and squirt it right into the aiptasia's mouth. Done.

Supposedly Joe's Juice works too, but I haven't ever used it.

I've seen many many instances where you cover the large aiptasia with aipt-x only to find it expell everything internally at last second. A week later I'd see 30 mini aiptasia nearby the original large one. By large i mean those near 1" disk ones

 

[Spunky Bob]

Just buy 1 peppermint shrimp and it will be gone overnight. I inherited a ZOA rock from a mate and it had 4 of them on it. Put in a peppermint shrimp and they were gone overnight.

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[ssick92]

I've seen many many instances where you cover the large aiptasia with aipt-x only to find it expell everything internally at last second. A week later I'd see 30 mini aiptasia nearby the original large one. By large i mean those near 1" disk ones

Ahh, ya I have never had any that large before. I guess in that case it would be best to take out the affected rock out of the tank and chip off that area of rock.

Best to get rid of them before they get that big though :rollface:

 

[m0nkie]

Ahh, ya I have never had any that large before. I guess in that case it would be best to take out the affected rock out of the tank and chip off that area of rock.

Best to get rid of them before they get that big though :rollface:

Definitely.. but sometimes when you see one in the sump going for 2-3 inches, u start naming it and checking it out daily as a pet lol.

I have a few shrimps that kills all aiptasia in DT. The sump and overflow is filled with aiptasia, but they work as water filter. So no biggie

 

[saltwaterwannab]

I chased aptasia with aprasia x for a few weeks before giving in and picking up peppermints. One did nothing for a week so I added 2 more. All 3 then started eating aptasia within 5 minutes of adding the 3rd. They seem to work better with more than 1 from what I gave heard, but it apparently depends on a bit more than just any ole peppermint. I have heard wild or female, not sure which it was I added last but the shrimp were from two different lfs.

If you get peppermints, watch out for some of your corrals
They frequently nibble at a few of mine and killed a brain corral of mine. As long as I keep the tank fed well they do not bother the coral much and they seem to be under control now. My acans are thriving again. The extra feedings do make for a bit more work keeping the tank in shape, but my zoas love the added food and are geowing like they are on steroids or something

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