aptasia!!!

[saltybastard]

I thought I got rid of this stuff with the purchase of some special ops type peppermint shrimps a few months back. Well now the peppermint shrimps have gotten complacent or have moved on to other food groups and the aptasia have come back with a vengeance. I can't inject them all. It is impossible to do so unless I move all the rock in my 180. I heard the best thing is a copperband butterfly but I don't want to see the thing die once the aiptasia are gone. Anything else?

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

True copperbands are tough to get to eat prepared food but it's possible, I had one that I bought for the very reason and it made it's transition to frozen food after the aiptasia was gone, it all depends on the one you get.

 

[shizno]

my small copperband eats anything and everything...mysis/pods/krill/black worms, was eating 10 mins after getting home...hes like a puppy that comes to my hand/glass when he sees me...guess i got lucky

 

[canesfan44]

there is also a type a file fish that, like the copperband, is hit or miss. I have never tried it, but I have heard some say that they work great and others that they didn't eat any aiptasia. I had a bad problem about 7 or 8 years ago and tried an Auriga butterfly (the only corals were softies and few LPS), and it completely wiped out the aiptasia in less than a week. The tank was only 55g so before I bought it I found somebody that would take it after it ate all the aiptasia. Where are you located? You might be able to find somebody local that already has a copperband that definitely eats aiptasia and they might let you borrow it for a while, or you can find someone to take it from you after it eats all the aiptasia. You can always give away or sell your peppermint shrimp and buy some new one's.

 

[KDS 71]

my CBB is awesome ate all my aptasia and eats frozen food like a champ.ive had them b4 and seem to get skinny after a while. i dont think frozen food is that nutritious.black worms are supposed to be good but no LFS around here carries them.try one out if your worried about it starving afterwards, pimp it out to some one else,chances are you'll get APS back eventually after it gone though and then get it back.

 

[carlosR]

My CBB took awhile to discover then annihilate all aptasia in the tank. To keep the CBB alive I suggest ordering live blackworms. If the CBB decides that frozen food is good then the worms will still be good food. All my fish love the blackworms. But for aptasia control nothing beats them, I tried the shrimp route but no go on control. I've even looked around for liverock with aptasia for a my CBB.

 

[saltybastard]

Looks like the CB may be the only way to go. I'm in Vancouver, BC. I have a few tangs in the tank as well. I hope they aren't to rough with the CB if I do decide to get one. Maybe I can pimp it out after my aptasia are gone if it doesn't eat anything else.

 

[KDS 71]

My CBB took awhile to discover then annihilate all aptasia in the tank. To keep the CBB alive I suggest ordering live blackworms. If the CBB decides that frozen food is good then the worms will still be good food. All my fish love the blackworms. But for aptasia control nothing beats them, I tried the shrimp route but no go on control. I've even looked around for liverock with aptasia for a my CBB.

carlos do you get your blackworms from a LFS or do you order them online?i cant find them locally anywhere near me..

 

[om619]

Looks like the CB may be the only way to go. I'm in Vancouver, BC. I have a few tangs in the tank as well. I hope they aren't to rough with the CB if I do decide to get one. Maybe I can pimp it out after my aptasia are gone if it doesn't eat anything else.

I had a CB with my tangs but he could not hang with them, they were to rough, but the CB did put the aptasia in check, now I dont have the CB and the aptasia is coming back.