Request of LFS (okc metro)

[aaparkr]

Please check your live rock before selling it! I picked up about 30 pounds recently - (30-45 days) because I was restacking my rock as a wall. I needed more to fill in the gaps.

I suddenly have aiptasia everywhere. Before, I could see most of each rock and had just about gotten rid of them, but since adding the new rocks (which I put all over) I am seeing them all across the tank.

I am also looking for some sort of reliable way to get rid of them... I added 4 more peppermint shrimp (in a 75). I used to have 4, but I never see them, so I don't know. I have been using Joe's Juice and sucking them out with a baster after they are dead (actually, I usually just get the white powder with the baster).

No, I am not disclosing where i got the rocks from.

Tony

 

[pwhitby]

Tony,

Add a pearlscale butterfly. Give it a week and they will be gone.

FWIW, almost all LR will have aptasia as will almost every tank. It grows so well in captivity that its spreads easily. The pearlscale will not touch anything other than brain corals.

P.

 

[SoonerFan732]

Will a Pearlscale Butterfly easily accept other foods once it has eradicated the Aptasia? Are these fish difficult to keep alive for an extended period of time?

 

[janderson8]

I would like to say I purchased over 200 LBS of premium Rock from Exotic Aquatic in norman. I have neve seen one piece of pest anenome in my tank. You as the consumer must also be on the look out as the stores can not prevent everything if they did you would see the price of live rock jump to $15 A Lb.

Just my 2 Cents

 

[SeanF]

From what I have seen the aptasia on live rock seems to only come in on the Florida stuff or Hatian Rock. I think this is because of the shorter transit time. I have never seen an aptasia come in on Fiji Rock. Unfortunately many stores just toss rock in a tank so if they ever had Florida or Hatian rock in more than likely they have acquired some aptasia in their rock holding tanks.

 

[aaparkr]

In retrospect, I realize I should have been more perceptive and careful. Part of my problem was that I have never brought home something I didn't pay for with the lfs in Okc. I realize they are moving a lot of product. Now I wish I had something to eradicate these things.

I read an article about nudibranch, but they recommend moving each rock to a separate tank for treatment and peppermints eat nudibranch.

Any suggestions as to where I might get a Pearlscale Butterfly? Do they eat other things after they get most of the aiptasia?

Thanks for the replies!

Tony

 

[SeanF]

Stores need to be responsible for the product they send out also. The big problem up here in Oregon is Red Flatworms. Every store but mine in the town I am in has them. I can't keep Flatworm Exit on the shelf. It is a two part thing. Stores need to do the best they can to make sure they are sending out quality product particularly not buying rock that come in with aptasia in the first place and Hobbyists need to be proactive in inspecting and quarantining livestock before they throw it in their tanks this is partially because most stores are not going to be careful enough about the product they sell.

 

[pwhitby]

PS butterflies are very easy to keep. Mine eats all kinds of foods.

 

[aaparkr]

Not to hijack my own thread, but judging from the picture, your new tank is coming along nicely Paul. I have a source for a PS butterfly and will pursue it in 2 weeks when I am back from sunny Florida - Disneyworld.

Tony

 

[captbunzo]

Hey, Paul. What are the care requirements for a PS Butteryfly? What size tank, etc, do they require?

 

[papagimp]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7322670#post7322670 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by aaparkr

I read an article about nudibranch, but they recommend moving each rock to a separate tank for treatment and peppermints eat nudibranch.

Do peppermints eat ANY nudibranches? Possibly a lettuce nudibranch that dissapeared a week ago in my tank?

 

[cek1313]

I have seen aptasia on Fiji, Caribbean, Haitian, you name it...it is a rather resourceful little creature. Like mentioned above, it would be impossible to guarantee LR without them unless of course the rock was dried out! Paul's pearlscale answer worked for me--After I visited his tank, I purchased a 2 inch one and he/she went to work on the aptasia the day he/she was introduced. Since then, the pearlscale has eaten Nori, brine shrimp and angel sponge diet. Just my 2 cents!