Leave aiptasia alone??

[SeahorseKeeper]

At MACNA, I was talking with a vendor who was talking to me about aiptasia. He first asked me if I had aiptasia in my tank and I told him that I didn't. He then asked me if I knew what to do when they show up in my tank because they will eventually end up in my tank. At this point, I was kinda interested in hearing what he had to say. He said that aiptasia are harmless filter feeders in small quantities. He went on and explained to me that the reason that aiptasia are in epidemic proportions in our tanks is due us trying to eradicate them. Hmm...he explained that aiptasia will release spores when they are threatened. So when we try to kill the aiptasia with lasers, aiptasiaX or whatever means, we could be causing the aiptasia to feel threatened and cause them to release spores. The spores take about 3-6 weeks to form aiptasia.

The vendor was selling berghia nudibranches. I'm just curious as to everyone's thoughts on this. Could we be causing some of the issues with aiptasia in our quest to rid our tanks?

 

[nova65ss]

I agree but if left alone it will get bigger and bigger and at some point release more soooo danged if you do and danged if you don't.....

 

[Spendley]

Sounds like he's trying to make a sale!!

Aptasia will regrow if not taken care of properly (just like anything), not sure about releasing the spores though.

I brought back a frag with some aptasia on it, set it on my sand bed and within minutes my peppermint shrimp was choking down.

 

[brainchasm]

Yeah, did he get to the part where he's willing to help you out by selling you a nudi? The berghias eat aiptasia. In the reading, there's no real mention of "spores" or aips reacting that way when threatened, but they will grow from as little as a single cell...like part of the foot stuck to the rock after you kill one. And I'm betting it takes...3-6 weeks for that cell to have regrown big enough to see the nem.

Short version is, he sells aip-eating nudis, so anything he would say WRT aiptasia control has to be weighed against that fact.

 

[huuta]

I would agreed with that vendor.Berghia nudi is the best defence against aptasia.Just like lettuce nudi is great for bryopsis

 

[ritter6788]

I've almost always had Aiptasia in my tanks. They aren't a big deal to me. When you squirt Aiptasia X on them you can see them retract and "spew". They are spewing larvae that aren't affected by the Aiptasia X and end up everywhere. The more I try to get rid of them the more show up. Natural means like peppermint shrimp or butterflies seem to remove them without spreading them but they never seem to get them all. They will sting some (zoas) corals but my sps and lps don't seem to be bothered. Aiptasia tend to move away from stinging corals in my tank.

I agree that if they are left alone they don't spread as much. I've never had one grow too big in my tank but I would nuke a large one if it was in my tank.

 

[Tahoe61]

I absolutely agree.

 

[philr]

aiptasia

I have had them in my tank. They hitched in on some live rock, and multiplied rapidly when my tank sat idle while I moved. I got the peppermint shrimp and used the aiptasia-x and they were quickly gone. the peppermint shrimp remains in my tank over a year later, and I have not seen any aiptasia again. I keep the aiptasia-x handy just in case.Just be certain to get the lysamata peppermint shrimp not the camel shrimp.

 

[Reef Fever]

i had a few in my 4.5 gallon, left em alone and they spread (slowly). I had two aiptasia that actually grew to the size of quarters. at that point I got 2 berghia and have yet to see another pop up.

 

[FL_Reefer]

It's not that there bad for a tank but if you don't do anything about them they will quickly multiple. I would rather fill my tank with corals that are nice and colorful instead of dull pest nems. Lol sounds to me like he was trying to make a sale or a future sale. He told you to leave them alone so that they can cover your tank and then in turn maybe one day have to buy his product. I would not take advice from this guy and get rid of them as soon as they show up!