Help with Identification and Eradication

GGkubs · Apr 15, 2022

Can anyone help identify this invasive species and suggest how to get rid of it? This has taken over much of my 180 g tank. Initially I thought it was pulsing Xenia since that was the only thing I intentionally put in my tank which is known to be this invasive. However, it really doesn't look like any Xenia I am familiar with. Next (and more important question), how do I get rid of it??

vetteguy53081 · Apr 15, 2022

GGkubs said:
Can anyone help identify this invasive species and suggest how to get rid of it? This has taken over much of my 180 g tank. Initially I thought it was pulsing Xenia since that was the only thing I intentionally put in my tank which is known to be this invasive. However, it really doesn't look like any Xenia I am familiar with. Next (and more important question), how do I get rid of it??

These are aptasia anemone and are considered tank pests as they both sting coral and multiply rapidly
Easiest method if you have 20 or less is to take a small bottle or pill bottle and mix kalkwasser powder with tank water into a paste the consistency of toothpaste and inject into the very center core with syringe or pipette and they will melt before your eyes
You can also inject with boiling water or lemon juice but kalkwasser paste works the best
If an infestation, I have a blue face Kleini butterfly that eats them like candy. Don’t get yellow kleini which nips on coral
With kleini- after aptasia gone, they eat all dry and frozen fish foods- not coral

Blue:

Not this yellow one:

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · Apr 15, 2022

There's a sticky on this forum about aiptasia... Have a look

Glenner’sreef · Apr 16, 2022

I too have a secret weapon!!! My Copperband Butterfly…. Bah, beautiful and sworn enemy of the Aptasias!

kdx7214 · Apr 16, 2022

Try going to a local fish store and see if they have a berghia nudibranch you can buy. The store I go to in St. Louis breeds them. They'll eat every one they can find and then you can usually return them to the store so they don't starve.

GGkubs · Apr 18, 2022

Thanks to all for your quick and helpful responses. I have started test treatments with lemon juice with some initial sucess. I will be looking for some of the pepermint shrimp and/or nudibranchs to act as maintenance workers. Are these shrimp going to coexits with my existing CUP and coral banded shrimp and pistol shrimp? Also, is my long-nose Hawkfish likely to eat the nudibranchs?

Wasabiroot · Apr 18, 2022

Also worth a shot are green aiptasia eating filefish. They will eat the smaller ones. Keep an eye on them though as they can nip corals.

\m/reefsnmetal\m/ · Apr 18, 2022

GGkubs said:
Thanks to all for your quick and helpful responses. I have started test treatments with lemon juice with some initial sucess. I will be looking for some of the pepermint shrimp and/or nudibranchs to act as maintenance workers. Are these shrimp going to coexits with my existing CUP and coral banded shrimp and pistol shrimp? Also, is my long-nose Hawkfish likely to eat the nudibranchs?

The shrimp will be fine with how big your tank is. I have two peppermints that eradicated my aptasia. They coexist with my pistols, coral banded, and cleaner shrimp.

leroytigerjohnson · Apr 18, 2022

vetteguy53081 said:
These are aptasia anemone and are considered tank pests as they both sting coral and multiply rapidly
Easiest method if you have 20 or less is to take a small bottle or pill bottle and mix kalkwasser powder with tank water into a paste the consistency of toothpaste and inject into the very center core with syringe or pipette and they will melt before your eyes
You can also inject with boiling water or lemon juice but kalkwasser paste works the best
If an infestation, I have a blue face Kleini butterfly that eats them like candy. Don’t get yellow kleini which nips on coral
With kleini- after aptasia gone, they eat all dry and frozen fish foods- not coral

Blue:

Not this yellow one:

100% agree with injecting them with think milky kalkwasser.