Confirm this is aiptasia please?

[Harris3005]

Hi,

I've noticed a couple of what I think are aiptasia growing out of some zoas on a frag I bought. They seem to be growing out of the polyps? Is that possible?

If I'm correct is there anything I can do or should I just get rid of the frag and chalk it up to experience?

Thanks!

 

[Irsug1]

Confirmed. You should be able to take the frag out and wipe or scratch it off. They are slimy out of water and easily removable. May grow back though if u don't get it all.

 

[bsagea]

If you're referring to the small soft polyp looking item towards the top right of the closed zoa, yes it appears to be aiptasia. You can get some pickling lime, put it on a tiny stick or toothpick and insert into the center of it. Wet the tip of whatever your using so the pickling lime will adhere to it. It will wrap it's tentacles around the stick as if to eat it and it should kill it.
bsa

 

[Dsnakes]

Definitely looks like little aiptasia. Another option from trying manual removal - cover the little demons in superglue when you pull the frag out. From the looks of it, you can access them easy with the zoas closed up.

 

[Harris3005]

Thanks very much for the replies and suggestions. I started this new tank with caribsea life rocks and Marco rock to avoid the pests I had last time I used live rock so I might just get rid of the frag. I've been so patient when setting up this tank and I don't want it all undone by the second frag I put in.

 

[jsker]

It frustrating but hitchhiker get into our system, even though we are very careful. As suggested pull the frag out and try to get the pesky aiptasia out of the system so it will not spread.

 

[Rip Van Winkle]

Why chuck the whole frag just for that aiptaisia? I'd QT the frag and just wait till the aiptaisia is a little bigger and easier to deal with. Or just QT it with a peppermint shrimp.

 

[Ashish Patel]

I started off with all dry rock and seeded with some LR. I was extremely careful but now have 3 little aiptasia growing in my refugium walls - Its a small price to pay to add bio diversity but aiptasia is not the end of the worst as long as you keep up with them you can eradicate them.