Aiptasia, first contact...

[maxtek]

A month ago, I spotted an aiptasia on some eel grass I got from an LFS. I removed it, but today I spotted three more tiny ones in the sand. This is in a 20 gallon frag tank connected to the sump that feeds the display. What should I do? Peppermint shrimp? Burn down the frag tank?

 

[aquariumreefers]

Try files fish proven to eat aptasia also copper band butterfly are great if all else fails lemon juice in a syringe or manually scrape them off works great as well. If yiu get Peps just make sure they are eating aptasia since some wont touch any at all

 

[sponge]

Definitely Peppermint shrimp ! I would pick up more than one . I used them with good results .The other way is to electrocute them with a majano wand .I used to zap Xenia off a Duncan , worked great .

 

[maxtek]

I have manually removed all of the ones I could see. How do they reproduce? I REALLY don’t want these guys in the display...

 

[maxtek]

This is what I get for not buying clean algae.

 

[jd371]

I have a Copper Band that ate the Aptasia for a few months after I got him, since he is well fed and not starving he has stopped and they are coming back in numbers. It was never the reason I bought the CBB but it was a plus that he did eat them at first. I've also tried Peppermint, but they became a quick snack for my Wrasse. Because they only eat Aptasia I plan on using Berghia Nudibranchs as soon as the temp warms up a bit to have them delivered. I was reluctant to use them at first because of the Wrasse. They are nocturnal so there shouldn't be a chance of the Wrasse bumping into them and from what I've heard if it does happen to try and eat one they taste lousy and will probably not do it again. They are expensive but do get the job done.