How to kill an Aiptasia?

[Sick_man]

Hi, I got a candy cane coral with an aiptasia stuck to its stem or whatever its called. How do I get rid of it? I tried plucking it off with tweezers to no avail. Even tried coral dip. I really want to get rid of it before it causes issues. Its really small about a quarter inch.

 

[Redfoxtang]

A lot have had success with Kalk paste and injected into the anemone with all flow off. You could also use Aiptasia X.

Aiptasia-X

Highly effective and reef safe. Aiptasia-X eradicates Aiptasia and its larvae from your tank. The special formula of natural components form a thick, adhesive material which, once ingested, seals shut the mouth of nuisance anemones. Shortly after ingestion, the material causes the Aiptasia to...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[Sick_man]

A lot have had success with Kalk paste and injected into the anemone with all flow off. You could also use Aiptasia X.

Aiptasia-X

Highly effective and reef safe. Aiptasia-X eradicates Aiptasia and its larvae from your tank. The special formula of natural components form a thick, adhesive material which, once ingested, seals shut the mouth of nuisance anemones. Shortly after ingestion, the material causes the Aiptasia to...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Its just one aiptasia thing tho, I don't want to spend that much for this one aiptasia. Can I put super glue on it so it dies?

 

[Dcole12]

A lot have had success with Kalk paste and injected into the anemone with all flow off. You could also use Aiptasia X.

Aiptasia-X

Highly effective and reef safe. Aiptasia-X eradicates Aiptasia and its larvae from your tank. The special formula of natural components form a thick, adhesive material which, once ingested, seals shut the mouth of nuisance anemones. Shortly after ingestion, the material causes the Aiptasia to...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

I use aiptasie X that he has posted, but it works soo well.. I had a bunch, mine have kind of grown a little as well in my tank, but it is cause I haven't done in a while, but this stuff does great!

 

[Sick_man]

I use aiptasie X that he has posted, but it works soo well.. I had a bunch, mine have kind of grown a little as well in my tank, but it is cause I haven't done in a while, but this stuff does great!

Okay but is there a cost effective way to get rid of ONE Aiptasa? Would super glue kill it?

 

[TheReefArchitect]

I’ve heard boiling water injected directly into the mouth along with lime juice for home remedies.

Fish & shrimp can be hit and miss.

most of the Aiptasia medication works just as well as others. I recently bought a bottle and it’s well worth having around.

If you’ve got one you can see you’ve likely got more than you can’t, in the sump back of rocks ect. They can multiply quite quickly

 

[Dcole12]

I haven't tried super glue, but I don't think it would hurt to give it a try honestly! I would give it a try so you don't have to buy this stuff

 

[josephxsxn]

I agree with others I don't think super glue will hurt anything. Just make sure to cover it up good. Also using aiptasa-x.

Echoing what others have said... If you can see one there is probably more, The tweezer attempt may have been all it needed to spread cells into the tank. Some people it seems manage to get rid of them over time. Others seem to just manage it the life of the tank without I'll effect never permanently getting rid of.

The strategy I employ is if I see one anytime I immediately aiptasa-x it. I don't wait for a buildup, take out upon sight of any size.

Fyi Aiptasa-x is just kalk (calcium hydroxide) slurry (lime water milk) pretty much... you could go buy some Mrs.Wages pickling lime at the store and diy your own small batch. Aiptasa-x it's supposedly proprietary and has some thickening agents. If you go this route be sure to turn off all your flow before you blast it.

 

[lilkiwi930]

Aiptasia X or F Aiptasia

 

[GlassMunky]

Okay but is there a cost effective way to get rid of ONE Aiptasa? Would super glue kill it?

I can almost guarantee that you will have more in the future...
You said you tried to tear it off the rock with tweezers, most likely that only added to the problem as any small piece of flesh leftover can grow into a whole new aiptasia. So you likely just caused more.
$15 is nothing in this hobby and you’ll have it on hand for later on when more Inevitably show up

 

[Jimmyneptune]

I would try the superglue. There is a good chance you have more, so getting the F Aiptasia could be cheaper then supergluing multiple times.

 

[vessxpress1]

I’ve used superglue on small ones in rocks. It will work. I’ve used aiptasia x and another type of stuff on one on a frag rack.. It seems to dissappear for a while and then somehow reappear from the same material of whatever’s left of it. I can’t take the rack out for long because there’s coral attached to it. The aiptasia x comes with a nice applicator. I eliminated all mine with it and yet I can think of 4 more I need to put the stuff on today. Once a tiny one comes in on a frag you pretty much have them.

 

[DSEKULA]

Oh my goodness, this is one aptasia on a frag not hidden on a live rock where theres potentially more hiding inside the pores of the rock. Id remove the frag in some tank water and manually remove the aptasia by scraping pff with a credit card or razor blade etc. Then take another cup.of tank water to rinse off the frag. For good measure cover the spot the aptasia was with putty or superglue and then place back in the tank. Just dont try to remove the aptasia in the tank or any bits can break off and grow into new animals.

 

[Oropher]

Tampering aip with aiptasia X, kalk, hot water, acid, zapping, scraping it will only make aip spread even more.
I'd frag the "stem", keep the coral, throw away the infestation. Or you try your luck with superglue/epoxy.

Once it spread out, the only thing you can do is to have some biological control.