Berghi Nudibranch

[nhlives]

I added six Berghi's and some egg strands (#reeftown.com) about a month ago. I spotted the little critters a couple of times early on but now they are the silent hunters. Every few nights an Aiptasia disappears.

I have a bunch of Aiptasia in my 60 gallon cube. Tried Aiptasia-X but ended up with over twenty that I could see. I assume many more were lurking in the rocks. Capt. Jeff at reeftown.com says it could take as much as four months for the Berghi to reach a maximum population.

Calfo suggests it will be a boom and bust situation. I'll get most of the Aiptasia but not all before the Berghi dies out. I plan on leaving any surviving Aiptasia strictly alone unless they are causing a problem. I'll just have to buy more sometime down the road hopefully not anytime soon.

So far I'm pretty impressed with using this "biological" approach to Aiptasia control.

 

[Mike N]

Good luck with your approach. You could also add a peppermint shrimp to help with the aiptasia.

 

[nhlives]

Good luck with your approach. You could also add a peppermint shrimp to help with the aiptasia.

Problem with the Peppermints is that they like to eat the Berghi according to Reeftown.com. If I thought the Peppermints would control the Aiptasia and would never need the Berghi again...

 

[Mike N]

Problem with the Peppermints is that they like to eat the Berghi according to Reeftown.com. If I thought the Peppermints would control the Aiptasia and would never need the Berghi again...

Ah ok, wasn't aware of that. Good to know.

 

[bif24701]

Problem with the Peppermints is that they like to eat the Berghi according to Reeftown.com. If I thought the Peppermints would control the Aiptasia and would never need the Berghi again...

I put 8 in my 180 with hundreds of aiptasia. Took about 4 months but they reproduced and multiplied until all the aiptasia where gone. Worked very well.

Suddenly however after 9 months aiptasia started to pop up all over so looks like I will need to reup. The nudis died off months ago because there was nothing for them to eat.

 

[nhlives]

I put 8 in my 180 with hundreds of aiptasia. Took about 4 months but they reproduced and multiplied until all the aiptasia where gone. Worked very well.

Suddenly however after 9 months aiptasia started to pop up all over so looks like I will need to reup. The nudis died off months ago because there was nothing for them to eat.

Anthony Calfo suggests that would be the experience. Predators just don't completely eliminate their prey species. I was hoping for a year ☺

 

[reeferfoxx]

I put 8 in my 180 with hundreds of aiptasia. Took about 4 months but they reproduced and multiplied until all the aiptasia where gone. Worked very well.

Suddenly however after 9 months aiptasia started to pop up all over so looks like I will need to reup. The nudis died off months ago because there was nothing for them to eat.

If nudis worked, their wouldn't be much a business in them. I did two rounds of nudis and in the end, still had aiptasia. Best thing to do is culture your own in a 5 gallon and then keep adding some little by little every 3-5 months. Aiptasia has a way of hiding in the smallest cracks.

 

[bif24701]

If nudis worked, their wouldn't be much a business in them. I did two rounds of nudis and in the end, still had aiptasia. Best thing to do is culture your own in a 5 gallon and then keep adding some little by little every 3-5 months. Aiptasia has a way of hiding in the smallest cracks.

I was vey pleased with them, I had hundreds of the aiptasia. Its was a plague. I don't mind having to buy a few every year or so.

 

[reeferfoxx]

I was vey pleased with them, I had hundreds of the aiptasia. Its was a plague. I don't mind having to buy a few every year or so.

I still think they are the best option and if that is okay with you, then no problem. I was just suggesting a in home breeding program . I think @Sabellafella did something like that? Not sure if he still has it up and going?

 

[Reef Dude]

After my nudi's started reproducing and multiplying quickly, I grab a few and stuck some in my overflow box and a few in my sump to give them the best chance of eradicating aptasia from my entire system. After having many hundred aptasia, I have yet to see one appear. But my tank has only been completely (visually) aptasia free for a couple months, so time will tell if any reappear.

Be patient with the nudi's. For the first month or so, I didn't see a single one of them, even at night. I seriously thought they were all dead and a total waste of money. Then I started seeing more and more of them, and after a couple months the 8 I bought turned into 40ish. Then I would see them everywhere, and it wasn't until then that I really noticed massive amounts of aptasia disappearing in short order. Just my experience though.

 

[Sabellafella]

=) sure am. I sold over 250 at reefapalooza newyork witch fetched me some pretty corals. When i get the time ill post up everything that has to do with breeding them.

I still think they are the best option and if that is okay with you, then no problem. I was just suggesting a in home breeding program . I think @Sabellafella did something like that? Not sure if he still has it up and going?

 

[bif24701]

I still think they are the best option and if that is okay with you, then no problem. I was just suggesting a in home breeding program . I think @Sabellafella did something like that? Not sure if he still has it up and going?

Just seems difficult to culture them, I guess I could try.

 

[bif24701]

After my nudi's started reproducing and multiplying quickly, I grab a few and stuck some in my overflow box and a few in my sump to give them the best chance of eradicating aptasia from my entire system. After having many hundred aptasia, I have yet to see one appear. But my tank has only been completely (visually) aptasia free for a couple months, so time will tell if any reappear.

Be patient with the nudi's. For the first month or so, I didn't see a single one of them, even at night. I seriously thought they were all dead and a total waste of money. Then I started seeing more and more of them, and after a couple months the 8 I bought turned into 40ish. Then I would see them everywhere, and it wasn't until then that I really noticed massive amounts of aptasia disappearing in short order. Just my experience though.

That's exactly how it happened for me too.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Just seems difficult to culture them, I guess I could try.

Nope! Just need to grind or shred some aiptasia into small pieces and get them to take over a tank.

 

[reeferfoxx]

=) sure am. I sold over 250 at reefapalooza newyork witch fetched me some pretty corals. When i get the time ill post up everything that has to do with breeding them.

That is pretty awesome!

 

[CoralWealth]

I would love to add some but I am thinking my wrasse and triggers would kill them before they would even be able to do anything in my 180.

 

[GoVols]

Welp,
(lol)
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/berghia-nudibranchs-for-the-dreaded-aiptasia-anemone.317481/

 

[lou dog420]

I had a really heavy infestation, maybe 50 or more aptasia. I added 4 nudibrachs, and in 2 months they wiped out every single aptasia. They also multiplied like crazy, but quickly disappeared after the aptasia was gone.

 

[CoralWealth]

I would love to add these guys but also dont want to give my wrasse a really expensive dinner haha

 

[Fishfinder]

Will they eat other anemones like BTAs?