aptasia

[drej424]

My 90G has a bad outbreak of aptasia. What's the best way to get rid of it for good? Should I re-cure the rock? If so, how? Is there any way to get rid of the aptasia but keep the purple and other good stuff?

 

[Hogs]

Joe's Juice, vinegar, kalkwasser, lemon juice, peppermint shrimp, boiling water in a turkey baster, Cobberband Butterflies are a number of ways to rid your tank of these pests. Be careful if you try to pluck them out. They can spread more. One other way is with a torch. If they attached to a rock, take the rock out and give them a quick shot with a torch. Good luck.

 

[greggnyce]

I got two peppermints for my 90 gallon and I took care of all of it. Also aquahut has a couple of copperbanded butterflies right now.

 

[billsreef]

Christine (Spracklcat) was working on breeding berghia nudibranchs last time I talked to her. Be worth dropping her a PM and seeing if she has any.

 

[Spracklcat]

Yep, still working on that... I am having no problems keepign the adults but have yet to have any of the eggs hatch and live mroe than a day. Those little buggers are difficult! If I do ever get it right, I'll let you all know.

 

[bobbbm]

I got a few peppetmint shrimp but I still have around 4 living in my tank. I leave them alone and they leave me along all is good

 

[drej424]

Thanks for the input, but I really want it out of my tank. I'm willing to take the tank apart to get rid of it. Any suggestions about the best way to do that?

 

[jgiordano]

Try the peppermints worked for me dropped the sucker in and was working on it within 10 minutes; and the least invasive way IMHO.

 

[Spracklcat]

If the rocks are easily accessible you can use a chisel to "skin" the rock: scrape just a bit of the rock under the anemone and you'll get the whole thing. This is good for getting big ones our and if you only have a few, but I'll warn you: where there is one there are likely many. Scrape off what you can see being sure to get the WHOLE anemone, replace the rock, and see if any come back. If you want next time I see you I'll show you how to do it.

 

[yeahcheetah]

Joe's juice worked nicely for me. The trick is to give enough to the center of their mouth. Only letting the tenacles to catch a bit probably won't help. I also have a couple of peppermint shrimps that are willing to do their jobs, but I have to weaken the pests first with Joe's juice, otherwise I think the anemones will kill the shrimps. Some of them are simply too big (penny to quarter size), their sting is potent enough to hurt my hand, and I have seen a small one killing a bristle worm.