ID hitchhiker on frag disc

[Peter luu]

Hi I'm hoping this isn't what I think it is if so, what should I do without having to remove mushroom from the disc?
If not, how would I remove the toadstool off the disc

 

[Mikedawg]

Hi I'm hoping this isn't what I think it is if so, what should I do without having to remove mushroom from the disc?
If not, how would I remove the toadstool off the disc

Hit it with AiptasiaX

 

[Akaswan]

That could be aptasia.

 

[Zero1091]

Looks like aiptasia

 

[C. Eymann]

PM'ing Johnik........nevermind

 

[jlts21]

Aiptasia. I have never had any luck with AiptasiaX. I bought a peppermint just to see if it would take care of em and it did, but not everyone has success in aiptasia removal with a peppermint

 

[ScottB]

Not sure how big or precious your system is, but the conservative approach is to cut the toadstool off the disk and remount it. They are quite hardy to handling & cutting and will stay closed for 12-24 hrs for sure. Crazy glue gel is your friend.

Where there is one visible aiptasia there are four more IME.

 

[Peter luu]

Not sure how big or precious your system is, but the conservative approach is to cut the toadstool off the disk and remount it. They are quite hardy to handling & cutting and will stay closed for 12-24 hrs for sure. Crazy glue gel is your friend.

Where there is one visible aiptasia there are four more IME.

Will try to remove the toadstool off the disc and remount.
I'm just worry since it will be my first time cutting a coral. Any tips? I don't have proper fragging tools that's the problem and I'm worried if I stall to long then it will spread.

Before I had same problem and what I did was use reef glue and glue the whole rock with holes or anything that can pop up again while my green mushroom was on it.

 

[jlts21]

I would honestly try the peppermint shrimp before cutting, but that’s just me. My thought with going the peppermint route was that if it didn’t take care of the aiptasia 1.) I wasn’t out a whole lot of money 2.) it would still clean up detritus and 3.) then I knew I’d have to go another route. But I’m also not real confident in cutting as

 

[Peter luu]

I would honestly try the peppermint shrimp before cutting, but that’s just me. My thought with going the peppermint route was that if it didn’t take care of the aiptasia 1.) I wasn’t out a whole lot of money 2.) it would still clean up detritus and 3.) then I knew I’d have to go another route. But I’m also not real confident in cutting as

Is there a risk of aiptasia spreading?

 

[jlts21]

Is there a risk of aiptasia spreading?

Do you mean if the peppermint starts to take care of it or just in general? In general, yes if it is disturbed and sends spores out. If the peppermint does take care of it then it should take care of more if they pop up. Mine did not show any interest at first, but I checked the tank one day and the two that I noticed were gone (tried to apply AiptasiaX to the one and it spread probably because my application wasn’t done well enough)

 

[Peter luu]

Do you mean if the peppermint starts to take care of it or just in general? In general, yes if it is disturbed and sends spores out. If the peppermint does take care of it then it should take care of more if they pop up. Mine did not show any interest at first, but I checked the tank one day and the two that I noticed were gone (tried to apply AiptasiaX to the one and it spread probably because my application wasn’t done well enough)

Thanks, I ended up cutting and replanting the coral lol didn't want to risk it of spreading.

 

[ScottB]

I also keep peppermints in all my tanks. Or I try to. They are prey (or toys) for several of the fish I keep so it is an ongoing battle to keep them present and working. Large tangs and wrasses pound them.

They (IME) do help control small/moderate outbreaks in some cases. They will eat small ones but not larger ones. Because they are prey though, they don't move around a lot. They stay under the rocks while the aiptasia grow in the light.

So you have choices. The conservative approach is to avoid introduction to the tank by removing the plug entirely. A sharp razor to shave it off; then some gel cyanoacrylate to glue it to a fresh plu or rock. Just like the fragger who sold this to you.

 

[ScottB]

Oops. Posted while I was typing.

Yeah toadstools look pretty sad when out of the water, but looks like he/she fattened up nicely afterward.

You should be good. Sorry it is nerve wracking the first few times you have to do that.

 

[Peter luu]

I also keep peppermints in all my tanks. Or I try to. They are prey (or toys) for several of the fish I keep so it is an ongoing battle to keep them present and working. Large tangs and wrasses pound them.

They (IME) do help control small/moderate outbreaks in some cases. They will eat small ones but not larger ones. Because they are prey though, they don't move around a lot. They stay under the rocks while the aiptasia grow in the light.

So you have choices. The conservative approach is to avoid introduction to the tank by removing the plug entirely. A sharp razor to shave it off; then some gel cyanoacrylate to glue it to a fresh plu or rock. Just like the fragger who sold this to you.

Thank you ! I got rid of the disc and replanted the coral for extra precautions

 

[MTBake]

I was going to suggest to scrape the aiptasia off and super glue over the spot. But it looks like you did well transplanting that coral

 

[ScottB]

So that was good practise for the future. Many advanced hobbyists discard all plugs for safety to avoid flatworms & eggs for acropora. I am a little more moderate than that, but pests travel well in this hobby. A billion years of evolution leads to tricky smart critters.

 

[Peter luu]

So that was good practise for the future. Many advanced hobbyists discard all plugs for safety to avoid flatworms & eggs for acropora. I am a little more moderate than that, but pests travel well in this hobby. A billion years of evolution leads to tricky smart critters.

When I lift up the disc to cut the toadstool, I saw a worm that has some red markinh I think.
It buried into sand afterwards

 

[Peter luu]

I was going to suggest to scrape the aiptasia off and super glue over the spot. But it looks like you did well transplanting that coral

Thank you! It was nice to able to experience from it and learn

 

[Vahanyos]

That worm could've potentially been a bristle worm -

On the aptasia note, I have a few here and there. I wouldn't try to disturb them to avoid popping and spreading the spores. Try Peppermint shrimps first - since they're hit and miss i would suggest putting a few in at a time. be very careful they are indeed peppermint shrimps - i've purchased one that wasn't and it started eating my softies. They are easily confused with a camelback shrimp or something like that. If all else fails, use something like F-Aptasia. I've done research and in my opinion, this is probably the safest way to kill the aptasia without the risk of them re/producing. lots of people have had success with it too, i'll let you know once i try it out myself.