Ok, that's aptasia, now what

[oddfish]

I think I have 3-4 tiny aiptasia anenomies in my tank. or more less, I've found 3 or 4, so know that there are probably a million little buds starting to grow.

I've read up on Nudibranch, and I'm thinking I may need to start an aptaisa only tank to feed them, cause hey, awesome

...but it sounds like once you have Aiptasia, you never really get rid of it? (it can hang out in powerheads, under live rock, etc)

Or is that where the aiptasia killing concoctions come in? I'm really happy with all the micro life in my tank, and I'd really hate to take it out.

Tank and assorted is ~120gal or so, lots of tiny baby mollies, from using a hand full of mollies to turn over my tank, otherwise only 2 clowns and a small assortment of corals (mostly in a frag rack).

Thanks
Oddfish

 

[SaltwaterNoobs]

My peppermint shrimp eradicated 8 large heads of aiptasia in 2 days, and I haven't seen a new bud since. That was four months ago. The beauty of their claws is that they are small enough to pick in the tiny cracks and crevices aiptasia likes to chill in. I love peppermints ^_^

 

[TJL]

Great advice ^above^ from Shawna on using Peppermint Shrimp for natural control. TWO things though to be aware of, #1 make sure that they are actually Peppermint Shrimp #2 med to lrg Wrasses and Hawkfish will eat Peppermint Shrimp.

Cheers, Todd

 

[oddfish]

I will try the peppermints first then, I don't think I have near enough to keep a nudibranch happy yet, and the peppermint will eat other stuff too.

Thanks again!

 

[1guydude]

wait are u trying to grow aptasia or rid urself of it?

 

[Scampy]

I believe there are a couple different species of pepermint. One is more likely to take care of aiptasia. Lysmata wurdemanni I think is the one you want. And make sure that you aren't being sold a camel shrimp as a pepermint. It happened to me when I first started.

 

[Rothany]

+1 on the peppermint shirmp. From my experince they work wonders in my tank. +2 on making sure its a peppermint and not a camel shrimp...

 

[Sasquatch]

peppermint Ninja's! awesome guys for your situation, be advised also the Ninja's are smart, if you feed them, aiptasia is ignored, a hungry Ninja is a fearsome creature

 

[oddfish]

I don't want aiptaisa in my display tank, if I had/have to order Nudibranch to get rid of them, I was thinking about spinning up a small tank to grow aiptasia as a food source for the sea slugs. If I can use 4 peppermints and $20 to solve the problem, that sounds like a total win

Mostly I don't want to loose my micro fauna cause they are doing really well and I have aspirations of breeding dragonettes.

 

[NC2WA]

if the 3-4 aptasia are on one rock and if feasible, take the rock out of the tank and clean/kill them...

 

[oddfish]

unfortunately the 3 or 4 sightings have been on different rocks (and the back of a snail). I'm pretty sure there is a small infestation lurking.

Thank you for the suggestion!

 

[Sasquatch]

unfortunately the 3 or 4 sightings have been on different rocks (and the back of a snail). I'm pretty sure there is a small infestation lurking.

Thank you for the suggestion!

at least your not in denial :becky:

 

[NC2WA]

if peppermint shrimp dont work, then you may try a copperband or raccoon butterfly..however both are a toss up for being reef safe...also peppermint shrimp are noctural so dont be upset if you dont see them during the day.

 

[oddfish]

Thanks for letting me know, I dropped them in during the "evening" (only compact actinics, no MH's), they are hiding out behind this and that. They are coloring up from clear, so that is neat to see. They do seem shy. I don't have "moonlight" actinics, I may have to pick up an LED strip or something if the "evening" is still too much light for them to feel comfortable wandering. I think i have 6+ hrs of black out, but if that is the only time they come out, I won't be able to Ooo and Ahh

I've heard mixed reports on the Copperbands (that they will nibble, but not eradicate, and from my reading, it sounds like Aiptasia will regrow from even a single cell), but I will find a way

Thanks again
Oddfish

 

[Sasquatch]

they get bolder as they get used to your tank, I had 6 for quite a while and they would be all over my hand when I fed the tank, and steal food from the nems, caught a hatching one night, unbelievable thing to see

 

[Holygral]

I use the aptasia zapper, works great, it is just part of my tank maintenance, like you said there are always hiding until they get big enough to see. I zap 5-10 small ones a week. I have no affiliation with this product except as a consumer. It works good, no chemicals, no compatibilities issues

Amazon.com: Majano Wand - Mojano & Aiptasia Zapper: Kitchen & Dining