Lets Talk Aiptasia anemones

[AllSignsPointToFish]

They came in on the live rock. Many years ago, I had the same thing happen when I started my first tank.

 

[Duez]

I use
Berghia Nudibranch

i got them from saltyunderground i bought 8 with a major infestation. I have seen them time to time running around my tank at night the have eatten most of my apitaisa and now i have around 40 or so running around i cant gove them away fast enought since the will die with out a food source

 

[Duez]

When I had aptasia in my nano, a couple peppermint shrimps completely solved the problem. Unfortunately, they also ate my torch coral and most of my snails. It's just popped up in my new 93-gallon, so I'm curious about Aptasia-X as well. I would really like to avoid crabs and shrimps if I can.

I started with Aptiasia-x it worked really well but if you dont fill the hole disc the will reproduce the nudibranch was the best thing i have used since the get the ones you cant see or get to

 

[happyhourhero]

I have a small Benny I caught that eats aiptasia and hydroids. I have only had it for about a month so I am going to grow it out and observe it so I can give a full report on its behaviors. I watched it wipe out a patch of hydroids and have watched it eat 2 aiptasia.

 

[Triggreef]

I also like the butterflies. I have a CBB and a yellow longnose. Both don't pay any attention to coral with the exception of my orange plate and acan (other colors ignored). Also destroy clams. Love the fish though regardless of whether or not they did the job and I was willing to build my tank around those fish. The problem is that they seem to not last longer than 4 years or so in captivity (with rare exceptions) and that means I will battle fish aggression problems AGAIN when it is time for a replacement. Basically means tangs with have to be rehomed and then replaced after an established butterfly. Another CON is that they can't eat the aptasia in your overflows and sumps....

Burgia nudi is my next attempt to eliminate the one in my overflows as well hopefully.

 

[Jlobes]

kalk mixed with RODI into a paste, then use syringe or small ML dropper to apply on/in aitpasia. watch em melt!!
obviously only works for the ones you can see and get to, but it works. Berghia are the best solution, unless you have fish that will eat them as snacks

 

[naecO rM]

To give an injection with vinegar. For one aiptasia use 0,5-1ml of 5% vinegar .
It is helps.

 

[esolo16]

Peppermint shrimp have done a great job at getting rid of Aiptasia for me. Unfortunately they also had a taste for my acans.

 

[Redrider009]

Aptasia x but still have to use it weekly

 

[chelltom]

Thanks for all the input I went ahead and destroyed my aqua scape as the 2 rocks that had them unfortunately were on the very bottom but after all the work everything is back in place looking pretty good. I put the 2 rocks in a bucket of boiling water and plan on letting the dry in the sun for a couple of weeks even then I may not put them back in. Hopefully no new ones appear.

 

[chelltom]

new ones did appear and Petco had a sale on Peppermint shrimp this weekend so I bought 3 saw one munching down on a small one last night .. things are looking up

 

[Steve - Ohio]

I just had my first appearance of Aiptasia and it was in the crevice of a rock near some newly added Zoas. I used a 10ml syringe and spot doused it with boiling water twice and I haven't seen it in two days. I am keeping my fingers crossed but another aquarist recommended that method and I was able to avoid chemicals or possible dangerous peppermint shrimp. Seems to have worked like a charm!!

 

[Terri Caton]

Aptasia X works well and doesn't harm anything. Pickling Lime works too but is caustic to your hands/lungs so have to be careful mixing it.

I bought 10 Peppermint Shrimp. Still have Aptasia. I haven't caught them eating anything else.

I also bought 20 Berghia. Never seen a one of them since. Still have Aptasia.

One thing that has really helped is I've pulled out every rock I can and have scrubbed the Aptasia off with a brush and rinsed it off well then put it back in the DT. If they pop back up on that rock I pull it out again. Obviously can't do that with some rocks due to scape.

 

[Triggreef]

Berghia work great but they need numbers to eat aptasia. Once they need enough to start eating they wipe them out quick and then die when there are none left. And if you have wrasses butterflies Peppermint shrimp etc they will eat the berghia.

There are pros and cons to every method of control and so many.... Aptx, hot water, vinegar, alk paste, glue, berghia, wand, laser, shrimp, butterfly, etc lol. Have to find what works best for you.

For me it's copperband butterfly. Great fish too. Con is well i can never have a clam. And it's tough to find a good one that adjust well to captivity.

 

[donfish2]

Ok so while looking a my tank last night saw 2 ever so small yet dreaded aiptasia on a rock in the middle of my tank surrounded on every side by live rocks . So my first thought is to throw the rock out which will mean destroying my aqua scape and who knows if its already spread anyway. So i did about 2 hours of research last night and came up with the following possible solutions please help me by voting on which route I should take or provide other possible answers. Thanks for you help . Here are the options I came up with so far.
1. Peppermint shrimp sounds good only I have read in some cases it may also attack other anemones or coral. Thoughts ?

2. Bottles of magic cure such as Joes Juice or Aiptasia X - again sounds good but I would be adding a bunk of unknown to the tank also I have read that although these items appear to work at first the aiptasia keeps coming back and you have to continually treat.

3. Berghia Nudibranch claims to be natures best cure-all - cons expensive and do they really work Finally if they do work and eat all of it they then starve to death in your tank.

Please vote and give advice or other solutions. Thanks

Peppermint shrimp .... I have done them all, and Peppermint shrimp do the best. But you have to have at least three...