aiptasia

DoriShults

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Okay so I thought I had these cute little things growing in the tank and was just thrilled to watch them. I'm flipping thru the forums and find this word and think, wonder what those are?? So I do a search and YIKES I'm not suppose to like them! lol So now what? I have one piece of rock that has quite a few it would be easy to take it out and clean it will that work? I have a couple of big ones how do I go about getting rid of them and how much do I not want them? Sheesh I'm beginning to feel like I'm never going to stop asking questions!
 
You REALLY!!!! do not want them. They will completely take over and sting your corals/fish.
Very difficult to eradicate. I thought I go rid of them when I took down the tank that had them, but one unseen aiptasia hidden under a coral was all it took to take over my 90g. I just bought some Berghia Nudibrach. They only eat aiptasia so hopefully they will take care of mine unless my wrasse eats them.
Some people have reported peppermint shrimp and/or copperband butterflyfish will eat them but it seems to be very hit or miss and I never had any luck with either.
 
Okay so I thought I had these cute little things growing in the tank and was just thrilled to watch them. I'm flipping thru the forums and find this word and think, wonder what those are?? So I do a search and YIKES I'm not suppose to like them! lol So now what? I have one piece of rock that has quite a few it would be easy to take it out and clean it will that work? I have a couple of big ones how do I go about getting rid of them and how much do I not want them? Sheesh I'm beginning to feel like I'm never going to stop asking questions!
http://www.reeftown.com
 
Berghia Nudibranchs are good, I used a matted filefish to rid my system and he is still on duty after quite some time. Just be aware that treating them with all the pasts and liquids tends to spread the aiptasia if one does not hit the mouth just right. Peppermint shrimp are a hit and miss, I have not had a Copperbanded butterflyfish so I can not give you my thoughts on those guys:oops::D
 
The big ones rarely get eaten by anything. The Berghia will take care of the little ones. That is all they eat. Once they are gone the Berghia will starve.

Don't scrub the rock. If you leave any pieces behind they will grow into new ones.
 
Okay so I thought I had these cute little things growing in the tank and was just thrilled to watch them. I'm flipping thru the forums and find this word and think, wonder what those are?? So I do a search and YIKES I'm not suppose to like them! lol So now what? I have one piece of rock that has quite a few it would be easy to take it out and clean it will that work? I have a couple of big ones how do I go about getting rid of them and how much do I not want them? Sheesh I'm beginning to feel like I'm never going to stop asking questions!
Can I help this thread.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/berghia-nudibranchs-for-the-dreaded-aiptasia-anemone.317481/

They will get them all.
They eat the small ones first then go after the big ones.

If you want live updates then you can click on my below link at about post #44 and follow along.
I did not get shots of the total outbreak at the first but they were everywhere.

Worked for me in 2012 and 2017.
 
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The big ones rarely get eaten by anything. The Berghia will take care of the little ones. That is all they eat. Once they are gone the Berghia will starve.

Don't scrub the rock. If you leave any pieces behind they will grow into new ones.
Welcome to Reef 2 Reef.
The Berghia's should get them all but they consume to big ones last.
It takes time and you want the nudi's to breed.

If one is going to keep adding corals and not using a QC tank then just figure, they will be introduced again and will come back.
 
I bought both today and got rid of the rock that was covered. It was a new piece we have only had a week so out it went. The other rock that has 2 good sized ones I'm going to inject with boiling water and hope these little guys I bought will eat anything else that comes around. I'll be looking carefully from now on!! Thanks so much for all the help, this is a great group!!
 
Now I have found 3 more :( There is no way I can inject anything into them as soon as my hand goes in the water the suck up and can't find them. I have 2 that are about 1/4" and I may be able to do them. I'm thinking I'll get a Berghia, I feel awful when they are gone and it dies but sometimes we have to sacrifice for things we love :( I don't want an aquarium full of these darn things. Thank goodness this is the smaller aquarium, I'll be much more careful in the large one. I've found several of these little things on snails too!
So will these little things come back often? I haven't found any on coral, just rock that we got, "great" buy on from a guy :( Won't do that again. Beautiful rock but that is where this stuff came from!
 

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