Aptasia on Maxima

TCoach · Dec 20, 2021

So, adopted this beautiful Maxima from a tank tear down. I knew the owner had aptasia, but didn’t realize how infested the clam was.

What’s the best method to eradicate the then w/o harming the clam? I’ve used Aptasia-X with good results when I’ve had them on my LR. Can I use it on the clam?

I also have some peppermint shrimp and also just added some aptasia eating file fish to try and help. (Adopted most of his coral too)

To start, I’d like to kill the ones close to the mantle and a couple of the larger ones. Then see if the shrimp/fish can handle the rest.

Thoughts?

Bpfor3 · Dec 20, 2021

Take the clam out and scrub the crap out of it with a toothbrush and then rinse it in saltwater. Do that once a week until you get all the aiptasia. When taking the clam up make sure it closes up tight before you take it out of the water. Should be just fine.

Eagle_Steve · Dec 20, 2021

Bpfor3 said:
Take the clam out and scrub the crap out of it with a toothbrush and then rinse it in saltwater. Do that once a week until you get all the aiptasia. When taking the clam up make sure it closes up tight before you take it out of the water. Should be just fine.

This right here. I have done it to clams acquired in tank breakdown buy outs. Just be sure to scrub out of tank and rinse the clam out of the tank. This will keep most of the aip spores in the rinse water and not your DT.

ReeferSamster · Feb 15, 2022

Eagle_Steve said:
This right here. I have done it to clams acquired in tank breakdown buy outs. Just be sure to scrub out of tank and rinse the clam out of the tank. This will keep most of the aip spores in the rinse water and not your DT.

Be sure to incinerate the brush until its fully destroyed. Then blow up the container you used to scrub the aptiasia with. Take the remnants of both and put it in the microwave and cook for 30 minutes.

However, there will be tiny little aiptasia cells left on the clam shell, on your hands, in an alternate dimension etc and they will all teleport into your tank. Eventually you will have twice as much as you had.

I hate aiptasia with a passion. I thank for Willie the Copperband. a CBB is a staple in my tank. If I should ever lose Willie, I'd definately get another CBB.

Sean Clark · Feb 15, 2022

I would suggest using some Piranha solution.

Wikipedia-Piranha Solution

Miami Reef · Feb 15, 2022

Some of these suggestions really boggles my mind. No, don’t scrub your aiptasia. I don’t know if a quicker way to spread that anemone than literally spreading its cells all over the tank (rinsing is not enough). There WILL be remnants.

Use super glue to shut them in. They will die and not spread. Glue should be able to easily come off after some time.

ReeferSamster · Feb 16, 2022

Miami Reef said:
Some of these suggestions really boggles my mind. No, don’t scrub your aiptasia. I don’t know if a quicker way to spread that anemone than literally spreading its cells all over the tank (rinsing is not enough). There WILL be remnants.

Use super glue to shut them in. They will die and not spread. Glue should be able to easily come off after some time.

dang Aiptasia eventually will probably mutate and find a way to survive frozen in cyanoacrelate. Hibernating.

Then one day, near the south pole, they will accidentally be discovered by research reefers, under the permafrost snow, hibernating in a glob of superglue who have no idea the unspeakable horror they will unleash in their research labs. ;Dead

I hate aiptasia. Sometimes I snip one off for fun and torture it by feeding Willie my CBB one polyp a time. Actually, sometimes I feel like the aiptasia might actually enjoy it.