Hello, does anyone know of LFS that definitely have the type of pepperment shrimp that eat the aiptasia? I understand there are many species of these shrimp and some eat it and others dont so if anyone bought pepperment shrimp from a LFS recently and the shrimp are eating their aiptasia then please let me know. I bought some live rock with lots of aiptasia on it. Thanks
Any local pepperment shrimp that eat aiptasia??
- Thread starter pitmindi
- Start date
cloakerpoked
New member
You want to get a true peppermint shrimp, and not a camel shrimp (or camel back shrimp). Even with a true peppermint shrimp, I've found that it's about a 50-50 shot that they'll actually eat the aiptasia. My recommendation would be to boil the rock for about 2 hours in kalkwasser, then to dry it out for 5 days before re-using it. I know that somebody is looking for aiptasia rock, and is willing to trade clean rock for it too. Look about a page down and it should be here in the club forum.
vr697getta
New member
i got a few from elmers that did eat aiptasia and they are on sale now at elmers.
one thing i noticed with peppermint shrimp if the aiptasia get to big they wont touch it
one thing i noticed with peppermint shrimp if the aiptasia get to big they wont touch it
Hermannsae
New member
NaClH2Opgh
New member
A few of us went in on a group buy and I had no luck. They disappeared and the Aiptasia are still here.
Hermannsae
New member
I guess, that's not so good! Maybe not enough?
But peperment shrimps are not 100% either, or?
But peperment shrimps are not 100% either, or?
Masterderrull
Member
If you can handle the extra fish and the bioload, a four-spot butterfly works wonders on atips. Just watch for other things like your zoas or a clam if you have one. I use a four-spot a while back and that thing cleaned house in about a week. Since then he has died because he ran out of food, and didn't like what I was trying to feed him. Might be worth a try for you, who knows.
Hermannsae
New member
Is the Chaetodon quadrimaculatus not a little bit risky in a reef tank?
What is it's max size? 7in.?
What is it's max size? 7in.?
Masterderrull
Member
Yeah for sure. But I don't know if pitmindi has a heavly stocked reef, a fowlr, or what. If it's a lightly stocked reef, could you remove some of the coral, put it in a quaritine tank, and then let the four-spot go nuts after that. Just an idea.
Hermannsae
New member
Maybe I should learn English first, before I am starting posting?? :eek2:
It should be: What about these guys?!!!!!
NaClH2Opgh
New member
Will it definitely go after clams?
*EDIT* OK forget it I just saw this: "this species feeds on small polyped stony corals, particularly Pocillopora sp. in nature"
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cloakerpoked
New member
Butterflies are not well adapted to any home environment without the level of care that would make acclimating a difficult anthias look easy. Many will only eat live food, or black worms in the aquarium for months after they have eaten the aiptasia. With a lot of care and time, you can get them eating prepared foods, but unless you are willing and dedicated to making sure that you take any/all steps to ease their transition, you should not purchase one. These are all wild-caught animals, and are in no way bred to deal with nuisances in your tank, so to purchase one simply to get rid of aiptasia and let it starve is unconciounable (IMO).
Masterderrull
Member
did not know that. thanks for the info
Hi and thanks for everyone's input. My tank is only a week old and has 100 lbs of live rock (with the aiptasia) and live sand. I dont have fish and wont for at least a month while my tank cycles. I used aiptasia X on some. I put some hermit crabs in my tank and 3 pepperment shrimp from elmers. I dont know if they are "real" pepperment shrimp that eat the aiptasia, but I'll see what happens. These shrimp have darker tails, almost black and sway from side to side as they pick the rock or whatever they are doing.
BTW, I didn't know that butterfly fish will eat blackworms. Are they the same kind of blackworms that my freshwater fish eat? If so, Aquaworld has a good deal on them, 1/4 lb for $10.00.
BTW, I didn't know that butterfly fish will eat blackworms. Are they the same kind of blackworms that my freshwater fish eat? If so, Aquaworld has a good deal on them, 1/4 lb for $10.00.
