Question about getting a predator for aiptasia

[attatt]

I have aptasia appearing in my aquarium during week 2. Shall I risk putting a couple shrimp in there to start eating them and risk letting "itch" into my tank or allow the aptasia to potentially propagate while I quarantine them? My understanding is that manually removing aptasia or trying to inject them when super smsall are not the best way to address it

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I have aptasia appearing in my aquarium during week 2. Shall I risk putting a couple shrimp in there to start eating them and risk letting "itch" into my tank or allow the aptasia to potentially propagate while I quarantine them? My understanding is that manually removing aptasia or trying to inject them when super smsall are not the best way to address it

Shrimp shouldn't carry ich. So adding shrimp shouldn't be an issue. @melypr1985 and @Humblefish are our resident experts on fish disease and QT, but I think they'll confirm what I'm saying. (If they don't then we'll both learn something. )

 

[Mike_J]

Ich in the cyst stage could theoretically come in on the a shrimp's exoskeleton as it can also be introduced on snail shells, frag plugs, etc. However, without fish to host Ich, the life cycle would be interrupted. Also, if it's week 2 of a tank cycle, I would try manual removal before introducing an aiptasia predator. Too soon to add anything as far as livestock. Just my .02 cents. Good luck!

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Ich in the cyst stage could theoretically come in on the a shrimp's exoskeleton as it can also be introduced on snail shells, frag plugs, etc. However, without fish to host Ich, the life cycle would be interrupted. Also, if it's week 2 of a tank cycle, I would try manual removal before introducing an aiptasia predator. Too soon to add anything as far as livestock. Just my .02 cents. Good luck!

Ha! Very good point! I don't know why I didn't think about it being still in the tank's cycle. Any shrimp introduced will suffer (and probably die) due to the ammonia.

 

[popsgym]

2 peppermint shrimp cleared a 150 gallon of mine in a couple days

 

[ChiCity]

If you can try careful manual removal, h2o2 and then superglue the area... it should work.

If there's just too many, once your cycle is complete try and source some berghia

 

[tgfitz1]

Aiptasia X by Red Sea worked well for me although it sometimes took a few uses before it killed some of them. I currently have a Matted Filefish (aka Aiptasia-eating Filefish) to keep them under control and he works wonders. He also eats garlic soaked brine and Mysis shrimp as well as having great personality. However your tank is still a little young for one yet.

 

[Humblefish]

Ich in the cyst stage could theoretically come in on the a shrimp's exoskeleton as it can also be introduced on snail shells, frag plugs, etc. However, without fish to host Ich, the life cycle would be interrupted. Also, if it's week 2 of a tank cycle, I would try manual removal before introducing an aiptasia predator. Too soon to add anything as far as livestock. Just my .02 cents. Good luck!

^^ This; although it could take up to 72 days for any free swimmers (that infect fish) to be released from a tomont on a shrimp's exoskeleton. However, if the crustacean is being QT'd in a fishless environment, then once you see it molt it's exoskeleton you are good to go to place in your DT.

Below is Table 10 from Peter Burgess complete dissertation on protective immunity against Cryptocaryon; to my knowledgable it is the only information available regarding ich & inverts:

 

[Big B]

I tried the berghia route and really haven't noticed any decrease in aiptasia. They are pretty expensive and I feel like I wasted my money.

 

[attatt]

how worried should I be about manual removal causing further growth? I almost prefer using shrimp at this point knowing they will die soon since they can clean the rock at a more micro level than I will likely get to

 

[MaiReef]

The shrimp don't always remove aiptasia. Aiptasia X keeps them in control, but I haven't seen them all gone yet.

 

[Humblefish]

IME; peppermint shrimp will sometimes eat small aiptasia, but you usually have to resort to a butterflyfish (like a Copperband) for the larger ones.

 

[lion king]

Adding a predator is always a hit and miss, if you like peppermint shrimp then add a couple. I've tried peppermint shrimp with no luck. Berghia nudis worked for me in one tank, I think they got eaten in another. Same goes for emerald crabs and bubble algae, I had a beast for over 2 years kept my tank sparkling. Since he died, I've had hit and miss. I do currently use aiptasia X and am happy to just use this every couple months or so.

 

[Nicolas_Brown]

I use kalk paste in a diabetic syringe and feed the aptasia and poof next day gone

 

[Tom Blevins]

peppermint shrimp or a copperband butterfly worked for me, or the final route epoxy putty in a pancake form and cover the rock.

 

[Bronc]

I used AiptasiaX to wipe all I can see, then added a Peppermint Shrimp to search and destroy any new babies. So far it has worked well. I'll spot a new one - and next time I check on it it's gone.

 

[PJS]

I bought 10 nudis for my 125 that had a moderate infestation. I was discouraged at first but a month or so passed by and I noticed that I couldn't find a single one. It was a pleasant surprise! A problem I was fighting for well over a year is now whipped!

By the way.... WELCOME TO THE BEST FORUM ON THE PLANET, R2R!!