Aiptasia and peppermint

Murica · Jul 30, 2017

Hello, I've tried the boiling water method with success however it gets old quickly and aiptasia are starting to come in bigger numbers.

I'm nervous about peppermint shrimp because I hear they can eat zoas and lps. Thoughts?

AdamNC · Jul 30, 2017

What size is your tank?

tdileo · Jul 30, 2017

They can do that. I've seen a lot of people have recently using berghia nudibranchs and they zero complaints. They will eventually die because they ONLY eat aiptasia. It may look like they do nothing for the first few days but once they're settled in they chow down hard at night. Just make sure you turn the pumps off for 15 mins when first adding them and add them all together in a group onto a rock, not an aiptasia. They will hide together until the night

ReeferMaddness843 · Jul 30, 2017

I had peppermint for my aiptaisia at one point. Once they ran out, they went rogue and began picking my acans apart. Aiptaisia X is my go to now and has been very efficient in eradicating and preventing the spread of aiptaisia. Now I've just got a bottle and no aiptaisia to kill. Thanks Murphy and your silly laws. Lol

AdamNC · Jul 30, 2017

Could also try a file fish if your tank is bigger then 30 gallons.

http://m.liveaquaria.com/product/pr...G-B-4395&t=1&gclid=CO-EncHosdUCFcobgQodwKQKgw

ReeferMaddness843 · Jul 30, 2017

I don't think they specifically go for the LPS, I think it's more of them just ripping them apart for the food they're eating. I always caught mine digging in the mouth after feedings.

Murica · Jul 30, 2017

AdamNC said:
Could also try a file fish if your tank is bigger then 30 gallons.

http://m.liveaquaria.com/product/pr...G-B-4395&t=1&gclid=CO-EncHosdUCFcobgQodwKQKgw

Do they eat corals?

Murica · Jul 30, 2017

AdamNC said:
What size is your tank?

It's 240 with a 60 gallon sump

Murica · Jul 30, 2017

ReeferMaddness843 said:
I had peppermint for my aiptaisia at one point. Once they ran out, they went rogue and began picking my acans apart. Aiptaisia X is my go to now and has been very efficient in eradicating and preventing the spread of aiptaisia. Now I've just got a bottle and no aiptaisia to kill. Thanks Murphy and your silly laws. Lol

Aiptasia x is injections right? My only concern is if I miss one aiptasia that I can't see then I'll be fighting it my whole life.

tdileo · Jul 30, 2017

Murica said:
Do they eat corals?

They can nip at them but won't do anything bad. Much less damage than an aiptasia outbreak. Being completely honest sometimes they don't even eat the stuff if you get unlucky lol

ReeferMaddness843 · Jul 30, 2017

It is an injection needle. It goes into the mouth, they "eat it" and just melt away. I guess it's better to do as you see them, nuke them. If it's become an outbreak and concerned of some you can't see another course of actions be needed. Good product to have on hand for remediation prior to an outbreak though.

Murica · Jul 31, 2017

So I ordered aiptasia x.. Got real excited about it but then noticed my tank is getting to the infestation level...

If I get let's say three peppermint for the size tank I have and always be sure to give them enough food... Anyone here think they'll stay away from corals? I'm fowlr as of right now so maybe they won't get a taste for corals?

Greybeard · Jul 31, 2017

Once the peppermints wipe out your aiptasia, you could always toss in a hawkfish

No more shrimp!

I'd go with a few berghia nudibranch. I had good luck with them many years ago.

Murica · Jul 31, 2017

Greybeard said:
Once the peppermints wipe out your aiptasia, you could always toss in a hawkfish No more shrimp!

I'd go with a few berghia nudibranch. I had good luck with them many years ago.

They're hard to find! Do any of the online stores have them?

Greybeard · Jul 31, 2017

http://www.reeftown.com/

Duraticate · Jul 31, 2017

I use only peppermint shrimp to combat aptasia. I have a 60g that has aptasia all the time. Bad thing is the aptasia gets into places you dont see often. Like my overflow box has aptasia. My return pump had or has aptasia inside the cover. So always a war against them. I have also learned that only 1 in 4 peppermint shrimp for me have had the tatse for aptasia. All the other times they just wait for food. I have never seen or had any unsuspected coral eating. I have had emerald crabs eat corals before but not peppermint shrimp. Right now i jave 2 peppermint shrimp that took ressident next to the one aptasia that was left by my previous aptasia combat platoon. Going to have to recruit another 3-4 here soon.

joporeefpro · Jul 31, 2017

i have 6 peppermint shrimp in my 630 display, and they never make it down to the end of the tank where I have 3 aptasia

MikeAndrews · Jul 31, 2017

Murica said:
It's 240 with a 60 gallon sump

I bought a Hammer coral and along with it came Aptasia. In a 190 reef it was impossible to eradicate. So I bought 3 peppermint shrimp. They ate every pest aptasia and even spawned! Beautiful when adults but will steal food from LPS if you spot feed.

Specblue · Jul 31, 2017

Three years ago when I set up my tank I noticed some aiptasia showing also. I purchased some peppermint shrimp and it worked great for me with no known issues. They clear them all out. I saw only about 4, sense then those shrimp have more to the tank in the sky. Recently I got a acro from a friend that had aiptasia on the base, rookie mistake , I put I right in my tank. I now have a few showing up again in that area. Been using the aiptasia X. Works good , but small ones keep popping up, I'm now going to also get a peppermint, good luck with your issue.