Found this little guy under a frag that I've had for many months. Also has some bubble algae on the side! But luckily it hasn't spread. What's the best way to remove, just clip it off out of water and scrub? You can see the size as it's under a tiny brain coral. Thanks!
Is this aptasia?
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Fr4nkthet4nk
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Yes, It is.
nautical_nathaniel
Indecision may or may not be my problem.
That's definitely aiptasia. I would get some AiptasiaX or put some epoxy stick over it. Be careful injecting anything into it since its so close to your coral.
If that frag is super glued I would pop it off and remove the aptaisia separately from the tank. I'm not opposed to kalk paste, aptaisia x bit normally you'll just end up with more. Manually removing if possible is the way to go.
Also my preferred method. Appies can spit babies.
SnapBackReeef
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Definitely aiptasia ! I hateeeeeee this stuff. It's almost impossible to get rid of. Try some peppermint shrimp. Do not try and pull it out because if it breaks off it will just create spores and infest the tank even more. But a creature that will eat them. Maybe a copper band butterfly is best!
The only way to get rid of Aptasia is to use Berghia sea slugs from Jeff in Florida. Look it up. I've used them a lot of times on customer tanks. Nothing else will work. Ever. If you COOK your rocks you are a complete fool. Use natural means of control. they work in two months, proven. NOTHING ELSE WILL EVER WORK PERIOD. Spend a hundred bucks put them in and wait.
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Ocelaris
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I covered the single one up with glue, no signs anywhere. If I find more I'll be sure to go that route. At the moment I have to hack out my bunch of Palys. Wish there was a nudibranch that would eat those!
nautical_nathaniel
Indecision may or may not be my problem.
I mean I've used the cover and smother method (original name by yours truly) and it has always worked for me. What happens when the Berghia eat all of the Aiptasia? I'm hoping they starve to death instead of moving on to something else, but even then the die-off from all of them would probably have a negative impact on my water parameters. So, I'm gonna keep doing what I'm doing and only spend $14 on a tube of epoxy stick.
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Ocelaris
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Berghia only eat aptasia as fast as I've read. So yes, they do starve to death once they're done. Unfortunate, I do have some issue with treating any creature as expendable, but I don't know how that affects their normal population in the wild.
nautical_nathaniel
Indecision may or may not be my problem.
Same, I hate it when folks get a critter of any kind and just expect it to die after it's use has been expended, besides stuff like feeder fish of course. I actually get really upset when I lose a hermit crab or snail because I know most of them are still collected and even though they are the cheapest animal in the tank, they are still a valued member of it.
Had 4 aiptasia come in on frags in my frag tank and installed a peppermint shrimp and got lucky this little guy went after them with anger and haven't seen a one since and every time I move or add anything in the tank he comes out and completely inspects anything that moves or gets added.they say not all will do this but mine does and he is awesome and they did the entire aiptasia and no spreading like trying any human removal
