Is this Aiptasia?

[jamiehill]

I just noticed this little bugger in my tank last night. It is about the size of a dime. I looked at the photo of Aiptasia in the gallery and it looks close, but I am not sure. The picture in the gallery has many tentacles. This one does not have nearly as many. I want to make sure it actually is aiptasia before I remove it. So far I have only seen one, but I haven't spent too much time looking yet.

Thanks for the help.

Jamie

 

[plack]

kinda blurry but my vote is yes

 

[Trenchsoul]

Sure looks to be aptasia, get some Joe's Juice and nuke 'em. Do be diligent about siphoning out their remains after you squirt them with Joe's, if you leave behind any tissue they can regenerate.

 

[Jiddy]

Is their a fish or shrimp that naturally eat this?

Do peppermint shrimP?

-Jidz

 

[Skimmy]

pepermint shrimp work great, just make sure you get a true pepermint, look for the wobble or dancing!

 

[jamiehill]

Thanks everybody. I was afraid that is what it is. I think I will go get a peppermint shrimp tonight. I like that idea better than using the Joe's Juice. I am not sure if there are more in there, and I think the shrimp could probably find them easier than I can.

Jamie

 

[Trenchsoul]

Be aware with peppermint shrimp that they can eat more than just aptasia and may not even touch the aptasia. It's quite common for them to eat feather dusters, and I've heard a few second-hand stories about them becoming the scourge of a reef tank. I recomend that you use Joe's Juice as it is completely reef safe, despite it meaning that there will be more work involved for you.

 

[jamiehill]

Where do I get Joe's Juice? Do pet stores sell it? I have heard about it, but never seen it.

 

[Trenchsoul]

Blue Sierra carries Joe's Juice, but most fish specializing stores will. Blue Sierra is in Issaquah, at 90 Front St South. Call for directions.

 

[Poorbob2000]

Saltwater City in Bellevue carries it as well and it really works wonders. I do both the Joe's juice and have four peppermint shrimp just for the ones I can't readily get to. Covers all the bases...smile. Haven't had any trouble with the peppermint shrimp eating anyone they shouldn't but have heard they can and watch the kids in the tank closely...smile.

 

[MikeS]

Be aware with peppermint shrimp that they can eat more than just aptasia and may not even touch the aptasia. It's quite common for them to eat feather dusters, and I've heard a few second-hand stories about them becoming the scourge of a reef tank. I recomend that you use Joe's Juice as it is completely reef safe, despite it meaning that there will be more work involved for you.

Peppermint shrimp are oppritunistic feeders...I've had them wipe out whole colonies of yellow polyps in my tank before...unfortuately aptasia are not the only thing on thier menu. also, IME they tend to only prey on small aptasia, they seem to ignore the larger ones...

An alternative to Joe's Juice is injecting them with lemon juice...I've had success with this method for many years. I use a small hypodermic needle (like the kind used to inject insulin) and inject them right in the center.

MikeS

 

[CarlaW]

Instead of wasting your money on Joe's juice, if you have any kalkwasser around, just make up a slurry of that and inject them. They tend to disappear rather quickly. My experience with Joe's Juice has not been good, that's why the kalk remedy. JMHO

 

[wrightme43]

I use the kalkwasser way too. I boil rodi water in the microwave, mix in enough kalk to make a slurry, heat it back to boiling. Suck it up in a old test kit syringe and skirt it straight in thier little mouths. PH 12!!!!!!!!!!!! They hate it, and die a most painfull death. Cheap, easy, and already sitting around the house. Dont mix lemon juice with kalk because one is a acid and one a base and it would defeat the purpose of the ph shift killing them. This is just a way that has and does work for me. Steve