help with aptasia

[pascal32]

I've been slowly stacking the new 120 tank and noticed that i have a few very small pieces of aptasia. I killed them off, though i suspect there are more I can't see.

I would like to take a natural way of managing these little guys. What recommendations are there on livestock that will take care of the small pieces wherever they are?

I was thinking of two peppermint shrimp (Lysmata wurdemanni). How can i identify this shrimp from some similar looking species?

any thoughts?

 

[scott473]

I have been on the lookout for the aptasia eating filefish, or a copperband butterfly. Thinking of taking a ride out to ABC. If they dont have either one i'll still most likely come home with something. lol

 

[pascal32]

ABC has some Copper bands. Gorgeous fish, though with the tank transition i was hoping for something more hardy

 

[jaybfresh]

Peppermint shrimp are usually pretty good with small aiptasia. They dont really clear out larger aiptasia, but since you have little pieces starting to pop up it would probably be a good solution.

Camel shrimp are similar looking (and not reef safe), but they have brighter white lines and a more pronounced hump on the back. If you are buying a 'peppermint shrimp' from a reef store, its probably Lysmata wurdemanni. If you buy from petco, etc you might end up with a coral eater

 

[solRNY]

i am sure you probably already found out, i think this is the one you want:

not these(humps):

i might be wrong

 

[superkat]

those are correct pics. hit and miss with filefish...as Jeff will tell you about Timmy....

 

[cardiffgiant]

Kleins Butterfly's are also hit and miss. As was my experience. Mine was also insanely hard to catch after he spent 24 hours grazing on my corals.

 

[scott473]

I ended up picking up the copperband at ABC. He's beautiful, but chillin in the back corner of the tank. My clowns are none to happy, cause its their corner, but oh well. lol

 

[pilotguy]

I just spend most of the beautiful sunday afternoon using joe's juice on about 125 lbs of liverock.

 

[DEEP BLUE SIX]

Just my opinion from my own experience and others that I know that have tried various specimens:

You can try the shrimp. They may help with some and sometimes not so great.

Both Filefish & various butterflys could be hit & miss.

Marine Oasis is of the opinion that file fish are not reef safe. As are many other LFS & hobbyists. There may be some good individuals here and there. Or they just have not turned bad yet...

Butterfly's can be risks in some situations(possibly with certain corals etc.)
But many individuals do well and behave- especially when they have other fish to "watch". They'll go after any pods and aipstasia. But some (like mine) also "learn" and take frozen as well.

My recommendation would be a copper band butterfly (CBB).
They can be shy and "sensitive", yes.
But once acclimated do well.

It's always a chance based on individual behavior. However, many are well behaved in the reef- depending on tank mate behavior and other factors.
I've had mine for 5 months now and he kills aips and likes pods but also takes frozen too. He does not bother any corals. Ignores Zoanthids, palys, acans, small sps, "tentacles" of various corals "could" be at risk- such as brains which I have etc.. But they go untouched. He ignores all corals with no interest in them. I also believe he's "learned" from my Tangs and other fish. Watching what they eat.

If you get one, I'd quarantine if you can. Make sure he's eating from the owner or LFS he's purchased at. Ask where he came from if possible. Such as a shipment or a trade in. & how long they've had the fish. After that, you just have to dive in and add 'em to your tank. Add at night to reduce stress.
See how it does. Many people have great success with them. Your aips are guaranteed to be gone with a CBB. They are not "reef safe" completely as a rule. But many are. I'd recommend over the file fish for sure.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I've been slowly stacking the new 120 tank and noticed that i have a few very small pieces of aptasia. I killed them off, though i suspect there are more I can't see.

I would like to take a natural way of managing these little guys. What recommendations are there on livestock that will take care of the small pieces wherever they are?

I was thinking of two peppermint shrimp (Lysmata wurdemanni).
any thoughts?

two aren't enough for a 120.

you'll need more- six to eight. I'd try the shrimp before other natural means of control.

 

[DEEP BLUE SIX]

Try the Shrimp.
Just be mindful of how much you care for them after they do their "job" eating the aips. Depending on what other livestock you have (fish) or what you may plan on having in the future...

If you don't care about the little shrimp kicking off or getting "picked off" by something, then it doesn't matter. They are inexpensive...

However, I had four once and eventually lost them to Angels and Tangs.
They hunted just to do it. Tangs don't usually do this. vegetarians. But aggressions can get small things picked off.

Larger ornamental shrimp(such as- coral banded, cleaners, fire shr. etc) are almost always fine in reefs with large or any size reef fish. Though they don't go after Aips, they are fairly safe from predation. Where as the smaller shrimps you want for aips control work good for aips in certain applications, they can be at risk from some fish... such as various wrasse, angels are rough on these if you plan to have any.

Like I said, I had 4 and all were killed by fish.

But the larger Shrimps (useless on aips) but nice tank mates, are fine with most fish in my personal experience. If this is just to get rid of aips then I guess who cares. But if you want to keep them indefinitely, watch certain fish species you may plan to have..

 

[pascal32]

Thanks for all the info, much appreciated. I picked up 4 and will ikely add a couple more if the fish leave them alone.

I don't have a visible aptasia issue, I just want to keep it under control

 

[Capt_Cully]

Put my vote in for peppermints as well. Used them several times with great success. Now, if only they worked for mojanos....

 

[tmz]

The lystmata wundrmani do the trick but they do bother and tear at some corals including micromussa, acanastrea duncanopsommia and zoanthus in my experience.

 

[Gravesj1s]

I think peppermints are pests and bother some corals alot.

I had a couple aiptasia that hitchhiked in.I used superglue right over them.Never seen them since.