Another chaeto hitcher [SOLVED: Aiptasia]

[ectoaesthetics]

If you can still remove your rocks I would do just that then burn the area with a cigar lighter. The other option I to use a razor blade to cut the rock around the thing. Think removing cancer you want a much larger boarder removed around it than you would initially think. ive seen kalk, lemon juice and lasers all just cause them to spread. The tiniest patch of cells will grow another one. So if you cause it to breakup (kalk or hot water etc) will cause it to spread

 

[Albertan22]

I know someone above said they didn’t have luck with Kalk paste but it has always worked best for me when you only have a few individuals and not a huge infestation. I just add the smallest amount of water to some Kalk powder to get a thick, toothpaste like consistency. I then use an actual toothbrush and quickly dunk it into the water and scrub the thing with the paste and brush, getting deep into any crevice the thing may be rooted in. They literally melt away, the key is that you don’t want to leave any tissue behind. They will grow back and quickly shift into reproductive mode as a stress response. This method isn’t practical for hundreds, but is effective against individuals.

 

[vetteguy53081]

While its hanging on a strand- no easier way to get rid of it. A couple thousand R2R aquarist likely wish this is how they found their aptasia instead of planted to a rock.

 

[SaltyCupcake]

While its hanging on a strand- no easier way to get rid of it. A couple thousand R2R aquarist likely wish this is how they found their aptasia instead of planted to a rock.

Oh! Does that mean I might be able to grab it with some tweezers? It's in a really hard to reach spot, underneath my heaviest rock and on the back-- but I'll turn my tank upside down if I can grab it now.

 

[SaltyCupcake]

Also, I have never heard of peppermint shrimp eating a healthy fish, a dead or dying one maybe. Your wrasse on the other hand would eat the shrimp in a second if he catches it.

Gotcha. I found a place that has a 1/2 inch berghia for sale so I got two as well. Fingers crossed.

 

[andrewey]

I'd 100% grab that aptastia right now (pull the rock) and cover that spot in some kalk paste. Then watch to see if any more pop up. I'd also chuck the cheato that you got- it has tons of pedals most likely if that's where this aptasia came from.

 

[SaltyCupcake]

Just wanted to thank everybody for sharing all this info with me. It really helped to bolster my spirits because I was near panicking.

I spent lots of time watching videos on the methods you shared so I'm calm, collected, and ready for war. Game face on. For science!

 

[SaltyCupcake]

UPDATE:

Berghia nudibranchs(4) got here a day early, but there was a delivery exception because of the heatwave and it came late in the afternoon!!

Cup temperature was 30.6C and the poor things definitely looked unwell.

I acclimated them as safely as I could following the instructions from Salty Underground, shut off my pumps, and placed them on the rock about 6 inches from the offending anemone.

Two of them disappeared into the rock immediately and the other two seemed 'stuck' together without moving so I set them an extra inch away in case they were needing a little private/alone time. ❤

I rose a little before 4am(sleep bores me) and wandered out to check my tank. The anemone was still open and defiant; effectively giving me 'the fingers'.

But!! Just an inch away was the hero of my story! A single berghia. I snapped off my little flashlight so that I didn't disturb it any more than I may have and carried on with a much needed cup of coffee.

30 minutes later, my curiosity got the better of me and I checked again. Berghia buddy is noshing to its heart's delight.

BAM!!

I'm not sure if the other little guys have made it and I'm hoping that my amphipod army didn't grab em. I hope that these super slugs can get all the aiptasia that I may not be able to see as well. I'm assuming that it's like that old pest control adage: For every one you see, there are 11 that you don't.

I'm completely bananas in pajamas and over the moon right now. Thanks again for helping me to identify this thing and for the guidance in its removal. You guys rock.

Lessons learned: Don't wait to handle something like this, check everything MUCH more carefully before adding it to my tank/quarantine, and pick livestock up at the delivery hub if I am able. Oh, and don't panic(thanks hitchhikers guide to the galaxy)!

 

[SMSREEF]

Awesome thread with a happy ending! Gotta love that.
Thanks @SaltyCupcake

 

[SaltyCupcake]

Awesome thread with a happy ending! Gotta love that.
Thanks @SaltyCupcake

Yeah! I'm really happy to be able to give a positive update to this and I feel really lucky to have caught this right away.

 

[SaltyCupcake]

I managed to get a little photo. The quality isn't great. Somewhere under its face is an anemone. It has tried to sting the berghia a couple times but retracts right away. Berghia seems unbothered. Looks like a tiny piece of chaeto got stuck to them during the process? I pulled some out of my powerhead last night which sometimes leaves little bits floating around.