&%$#@#ing aiptasia

[Tauch]

Now I have them too...

Took a closer look at the "anemones" which popped up in the back now extended far out. Aiptasia...grrr

I plan on a FO tank only. but don't want these guys running rampant..
My options: Kalkwasser injections, peppermint shrimp,hmmm? any other ideas..

do camel shrimp eat aiptasia? LFS has more camel shrimp than you can shake a stick at.

not panicking, just want to get rid of them.
cheers,
Rob

[Timur]

You can try
Peppermints
Chelmon rostratus (Copperband Butterfly)
or the nudibranch called Berghia verrucicornis

I think camel shrimp wont eat aiptasias; my friend put 4 in his reef tank last year and they start to eat every single polyp thingy in the tank. They also ripped the eyes off of cleaner shrimps . They were nasty. I dont know if all of them are like the ones that my friend bought but I'll never buy one of them.

What ever you do to get rid off aiptasia do it quick. My tank is now all covered with them. I'm trying to buy the nudibranch and peppermint but no one seem to import them to Istanbul. So I think I'll go with the copperband.

Good luck

[FishDaddy]

Rob,
As Timur said, Camelback shrimp are notorious for eating coral polyps but aren't known Aiptasia eaters.
Many of the Rhychocinetes species (R. uritai is the one most commonly sold here) are sold in the marine trade as "Peppermint Shrimp". The "True Peppermint" is the Lysmata wurdemanni, which is the famed Aiptasia eater.

Good Pep:


Bad Pep:


I would never recommend a Camel Shrimp for any reef tank!

Joaco's Aiptasia page has the most complete collection of info I've found for control and ID of aiptaisa:
http://www.wyx.com/iheo/tank/aiptasia.htm

HTH,
Dick

[Tauch]

Explained my problem in broken german...they immediately pointed me to the Copperband butterfly (didn't notice those the other day) and then she showed me what I thought they didn't have, L. wurdemanni. needless to say with my wifes blessing I bought it...15 euros, no worries though if it eats the aiptasia..

it's seems to be acclimating???? we'll see tomorrow..
Cheers,
Rob

[reef watcher]

Peppermint shrimp did a great job on mine. My 55 gal got loaded after my LFS told me they were good anenamoes. Try it they eat them right up

[Jimbo]

Hi,

Picked up a peppermint shrimp the other day and my aptasia are gone.

[Doug1]

t*f*a*

[Brooke]

We purchased a copperband butterfly...and I must say, I have yet to see a dent in our aiptasia population. I know it can take some time, so I'm trying to be patient.....and crossing my fingers that he'll get hungry enough to eat the little buggers.

FWIW, I wouldn't recommend a copperband for most people/ or tanks. They do eat worms...lots of worms. I've seen this guy swallow a bristle worm whole. Also, they are very delicate fish. I did some homework and purchased one from Australia through www.themarinecenter.com . He is proving hardy and healthy. They need a well established tank with plenty of room.

I do think we will double up the efforts soon and throw some pepps in there.

Brooke