aptasia on clam

[ksfa10]

my new maxima has a couple of aptasia growing on its outer shell near the opening and I believe they are causing it to stay slightly closed. What is a good way to remove them without harming the clam?
Thanks,

 

[johnnybravo234]

Use a pair of sharp forceps to scrape them off.

 

[ksfa10]

Thats it? Wont they simply grow back? Can't they grow back from a single cell?

 

[johnnybravo234]

They usually wont grow back if you scrape the entire anemone off.

 

[o.c.d.]

No No NO. these anemones should never be removed from the aquarium by cutting, crushing,or scraping. They can and do reproduce by pedal laceration. You can inject them with a number of different poshens, Out side of the tank preferably

 

[biger]

Aptasia-X by red sea has worked for me to get rid of these things.

 

[horsefarm5]

Aptasia X...so far so good

 

[green_frogspawn]

i found that aptasia-x didnt work for me, they just came back again after a couple of days

 

[quicksilverq]

I am with green came back after a few days.

 

[o.c.d.]

When you are dosing are you basically jamming it down the aptasia's mouth? When I use Joe's juice with a syringe and you have to get it in the mouth for it to work some take two doses.

 

[biger]

You also have to be persistant. (don't know how to spell very well) I declared war on aptasia and just kept after them with aptasia-x. I would get every one I saw and look for them the next day and get every one again and so on until they were gone. Takes time and you will finally get them.

Don't expect to get them all the first or even second time. When they come back you just have to get them again and don't give up.

 

[pufferpoo]

Inject Joes juice or very warm lemon juice into the mouth.

 

[ksfa10]

Ok, I have to suppose that none of these substances will damage the clam, correct? The aptasia are near the mouth of the clam and that is the main problem, it is a sensitive area. That is why the clam is not fully opening. If they were located further away from the mouth, I would not be so concerned about removal by chemical means.
Thanks,

 

[12gallonbaby]

I have used plain vingear to kill my aptesia. I just squirt it in the mouth and then I can see the anemone just die off. I have 2 clams in my tank and the vinegar has never bothered them. just my 2 cents.

 

[biger]

Aptasia-X also has never bother any thing else in my tank. Just don't squirt any of these potions in the clam and turn of the pumps when using them so the stuff goes where you want it to.

 

[johnnybravo234]

I was answering under the impression that these are not the only aptasia anemone in his tank. If he has some on his clam then they are probably already out of control. If these are the only visible aptasia then they should be removed while the clam is in an external container. DO NOT use kalk or any other caustic substance anywhere near your clam. Buy a couple of peppermint shrimp. They will annihalate the aptasia within a month. Until then, unless you want your clam to get stressed out and possibly die, remove the anemones manually.

 

[Bigmike]

Ive had success with covering them firmly with the epoxy putty for frags, without light or food, they end up dying in a matter of weeks. Then you can just peel off the putty and viola, theyre gone. Just make sure they cant move out from under the putty and youll be good.
I like this method becuase it seems to be very non-stressful on my tank.

HTH

mike

 

[ksfa10]

No, I don't have them elsewhere in the tank, yet. These are the only ones so far. No I did not quarantine the clam, yes I am supposed to qt everything but I really did not believe them to be a real threat to my tank anyway, just the clam itself. I like johnny bravos plan with the shrimp but have heard that they can be hit or miss with aptasia and may bother the clam itself. True?
Thanks

 

[o.c.d.]

I've just read some interesting info in James Fatheree's Clam book. He talks about removing the clam and with a stiff brush removing all aptasia tissue ,just no guarantee it won't grow back. He also says lemon or strong kalk mix works but if it is near the mantle it may stress the clam as well.
So what is more stressful pulling the clam and scrubbing or kalk near the mantle?
No guarantees a peppermint will eat them or if a copperband will attack the clam.
Apologies on the strict NO's johnnybravo

 

[biger]

I don't know what aptasia-x is but I don't see how it could bother the clam if you turn the pumps off for 15 mins while you put it on the aptasias. It takes such a small amount to get rid of an aptasia. You just have to be careful and only use what is needed. The aptasias seem to go for it and eat it up then they just die. Seems like it would stress it out less than removing and scraping. The glue method sounds like it might be worth a try. I have had good luck with the peppermint shrimp also.

Good luck.