Looking to Control Your Aiptasia?

ReefMadScientist · Nov 4, 2015

I have a BristleTail File Fish (Matted File Fish) I am willing to sell. Got him for $30 dollars and he is now fully eating Aiptasia like a champ!

Tag, Quote, PM, or whatever if interested.

I need him for maybe one more week. He is mowing these things down.

gbdrywall · Nov 4, 2015

i have one in my tank for the same reason.quite a model citizen.loves anything i feed and i no longer have any aiptasia!!

rajkovich207 · Nov 4, 2015

Do they pick at any of your guys corals? I've been considering one to help knock down my ball anemone population but worried about my other corals.

ReefMadScientist · Nov 4, 2015

rajkovich207 said:
Do they pick at any of your guys corals? I've been considering one to help knock down my ball anemone population but worried about my other corals.

I have not noticed him picking any coral but, of course, there is always a possibility. As long as you just have him in there to control your Aiptasia, you will be fine. I am assuming as soon as they have nothing to peck at, they probably will try the coral.

Mine will pick at crabs and snails so if they are flipped over, be sure to help them out.

gbdrywall said:
i have one in my tank for the same reason.quite a model citizen.loves anything i feed and i no longer have any aiptasia!!

My Blue Hippo, as seen in the picture, will not leave its side. "She" will try to dance with the file fish lol. I think its time I get her another hippo.

vic5hands · Nov 4, 2015

rajkovich207 said:
Do they pick at any of your guys corals? I've been considering one to help knock down my ball anemone population but worried about my other corals.

Not one bite in my tank

rajkovich207 · Nov 4, 2015

Cool thanks, wasn't sure what I was going to do for my last fish. My lfs has these pretty regularly so maybe I'll pick one up!

miyags · Nov 4, 2015

Just a fair warning, before you sell. I have a cooperband that took care of all mine, so I thought. He was in my tank for a year,ate'em all. Then I added a powder blue, got ich. Took all fish out to treat. left DT fishless for 72 days.and in that time my tank was loaded with baby aiptasia again. They can live where fish can't get them.

vic5hands · Nov 4, 2015

Works a lot better than my copper band butterfly

ReefMadScientist · Nov 4, 2015

miyags said:
Just a fair warning, before you sell. I have a cooperband that took care of all mine, so I thought. He was in my tank for a year,ate'em all. Then I added a powder blue, got ich. Took all fish out to treat. left DT fishless for 72 days.and in that time my tank was loaded with baby aiptasia again. They can live where fish can't get them.

Yes agreed. I have a happy-medium with Aiptasia. They are in my sump, wedged deep inside rocks, etc. etc. As long as I can control the menacing one's where they start taking over the sand, rocks, etc., I am ok.

I too had a CopperBand which ate them like a champ. I added a Clown Tang which was quiet aggressive in its swimming. The Bufferfly did not like that and ended up starving itself