Zoa frag with aptasia - next steps...

[MeMyFishandI]

Hi
Thanks for reading. I bought a nice mix frag of blood suckers and rastas. The frag is completely encrusted in polyps and they are looking very healthy. However, when I was looking at the pug under the magnifying glass I saw the tiniest bit of aptasia on it. So I thought I would see what I could do. The frag is currently in QT, so there is time.

A. I could get some aptasia-x for $15... yikes, considering the frag cost me $20.

B. I was hoping I could scrape the polyps off the plug and just place them on my LR but the plug is so encrusted (as in right around the sides and hanging off the bottom a bit), I am worried I may damage the coral or damage myself with trying to manage a very sharp knife (knives and I have a long history of not getting along well). I was thinking I could cut off the polyps but leave the aptasia behind.

C. I could cut off the aptasia and leave the corals on the plug.

D. Get a peppermint shrimp. This will take a while as no LFS have any in stock and getting stock in is difficult at this time (due to the border closure). Also, as this is the only aptasia I have, what would the shrimp eat after it is gone (probably my zoas, I would imagine).

What are your thoughts? Thanks!

 

[jx.reef]

E. Super glue the aiptasia and the area around it generously. Carefully watch the plug over the next 2 months for any new aiptasia.

 

[JustDewwit]

As long as you feed your tank daily the peppermint shrimp will keep the aiphasia under control. After battling aphasia for nearly a year I purchased 2 peppermints from WWC. There were more than a hundred aiptasia in my biocube. Every day I could see less and after two weeks I've never seen another aiphasia. I feed the peppermint daily along with everyone else in the tank. I try to visually ensure all of my inverts are fed to keep them from turning on the tank inhabitants.

 

[tanked4u]

+1 for super glue and observe

 

[MeMyFishandI]

E. Super glue the aiptasia and the area around it generously. Carefully watch the plug over the next 2 months for any new aiptasia.

That is a fantastic idea. Thanks!

 

[MeMyFishandI]

As long as you feed your tank daily the peppermint shrimp will keep the aiphasia under control. After battling aphasia for nearly a year I purchased 2 peppermints from WWC. There were more than a hundred aiptasia in my biocube. Every day I could see less and after two weeks I've never seen another aiphasia. I feed the peppermint daily along with everyone else in the tank. I try to visually ensure all of my inverts are fed to keep them from turning on the tank inhabitants.

Sadly, it looks like it could be several months before we see regular imports of inverts here (welcome to the West Coast of Canada). With the border closures and reduced flights in to the area, consistent supply of any aquarium live stock (salt or fresh water) is pretty well impossible. The demand is much greater than the supply.

 

[bsn_rn_cen]

I've had lots of luck with superglue as well.

 

[Charles Belisle]

Recently bought two frags with aiptasia - aptasia-x took care of them. Figure in the future I will be buying more frags; so the extra aptasia-x will come in handy.