rishu_pepper
New member
Is this aiptasia? I got a couple of these guys in my tank.
If so, peppermint shrimp? I don't feel too confident with lemon juice nor picking out the rocks (on the bottom of other rocks... argghh).
Does this look like aiptasia?
- Thread starter rishu_pepper
- Start date
Is this aiptasia? I got a couple of these guys in my tank.
If so, peppermint shrimp? I don't feel too confident with lemon juice nor picking out the rocks (on the bottom of other rocks... argghh).
Cheezefrog
New member
yes, and yes.
peppermint shrimp is the way to go. I actually just got rid of mine though, hes been going after some of my corals, both anemones and a rescue/injured trachyphyllia.
peppermint shrimp is the way to go. I actually just got rid of mine though, hes been going after some of my corals, both anemones and a rescue/injured trachyphyllia.
rishu_pepper
New member
How many peppermint should I pick up? 90g tank, I can see about 3 of these in the tank (not sure if some are under the rockwork too), less than an inch each.
rishu_pepper
New member
Also, is it an option to just completely remove the rocks from the tank that they are on? I can spare a couple of rocks if it means getting rid of them.
apexkeeper
New member
Peppermint shrimp seem hit or miss, mine did nothing for my aiptasia...
Cheezefrog
New member
You could try vinegar targeting or kalk paste, it is hit or miss with them though with the aiptasia, but if you don't overfeed your tank they usually will scavenge for them. Since the shrimp are fairly cheap, get 3 odds are better than evens imo.....not that it matters. You can try to scrub the rock, but sometimes they'll grow like a weed in random spots - plus they like to hide in live rock holes which makes them hard to get too.
rishu_pepper
New member
I'll go get 3 later after work.
gone fishin
New member
I agree. BTW I have used some epoxy putty in the past to bury them in their hole.
rishu_pepper
New member
Here are a couple more pictures for confirmation:
If they are NOT aiptasia, what could it be? I don't know my corals/anemones very well.
I do have some aquascape epoxy. But there are some in places I can't even see/reach well at all. Should I give that a try anyway?
I had over 30 aiptasias before learning that they are "undesirables" and addressing the issue. I got 2 peppermints. It took them several weeks to do most of the cleanup. Now, after 2 months, I have one or 2 aiptasias that they save for future snacking.
Don't worry, get the shrimp (about $6 ea), give them time to do their thing.
Good luck!
Don't worry, get the shrimp (about $6 ea), give them time to do their thing.
Good luck!
rishu_pepper
New member
Thanks for the reassurance! Hopefully they will do a bang-up job with the aiptasia. The wife (and I) are justifiably pretty nervous/annoyed by this since it's our first good sized tank (the 30g doesn't count :crazy1
. :uzi::uzi:Aiptasia!!
rishu_pepper
New member
Well, I got 3 peppermints yesterday. I'll report back in a week and hopefully they will have made some progress. There are some bigger ones (size of a quarter almost) that I'm thinking will need manual removal techniques.
" Do peppermint shrimp eat other desirables? " -If hungry, they come out and eat along other creatures during feeding time. I was told not to overfeed them and keep them eager to eat aiptasias. I made no effort to hide food from them and am still happy with their presence and performance.
" Well, I got 3 peppermints yesterday. " -They will start munching on little ones first. The older, most established aiptasia disappear last. . . Good luck!
" Well, I got 3 peppermints yesterday. " -They will start munching on little ones first. The older, most established aiptasia disappear last. . . Good luck!
rishu_pepper
New member
Grabbed some syringes and shot a couple of the bigger aiptasias (about the size of a nickel) with lemon juice. One died I think, it literally looked like it disintegrated right before my eyes. The other one I mistimed the shot and it retracted too fast, and now is back out. I'll try again later tonight.
Not sure if the peppermints have done anything, I've only seen them once since I got them last week. I'm not hurrying them though, gonna let it run its course.
Not sure if the peppermints have done anything, I've only seen them once since I got them last week. I'm not hurrying them though, gonna let it run its course.
whiteshark
Active member
Still doesn't look like aiptasia to me, but I don't know what it is...
rishu_pepper
New member
I looked through Google and Youtube to confirm and I'm 90% mine are aiptasia. I'd be happy if you were right and they weren't though.
