aiptasia advice

manners

manners

Member
ok iv been battleing aiptasia for about a year with red sea aptasia-x. the problem is that they keep comming back and it i dont do it every week or to they get almost out of control. i can only treat the ones that i can see so the prosses seems to be never ending. is there any other methods to removing them for good?/
 
monsinour

monsinour

Active Member
there is a sea slug that you can get that only eats aiptasia. depending on how many aiptasia you have would determine how many slugs you order. let me see if I can find the website and PM it to you.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Keep in mind that the Berghia only eats aptasia...and when all gone they will starve...
UNLESS you live in an area that a lfs or a reef club will trade you...Personally I would not get one
 
dmanatee

dmanatee

Member
There are alway pepermint shrimp "if you get one that Actualy eats Aptasia" Mine ate the things, till they realized that the starfish was getting small chunks of silversliders and now they wont tuch the stinging _____! Good luck!
 
J

jstdv8

Guest
well if you are tired of buying aiptasia X just make your own paste out of kalkwasser (or even cheaper, Mr's wages pickling lime) mix it with water intil you have it in a paste that sticks to whatever you are using to stir with but still a bit runny so you can get it in a srynge.
Shut off your powerheads and blast the aiptasia with the paste across thier entire face so they cant send out spawn. then let it sit there for 45 minutes to an hour
Then suck the paste and the aiptasia out with a turkey baster and dispose.
This will leave no aiptasia in the hole to come back and it also prevents it from sending out new babies.
Like aiptsia X don't do more than 20 or so a day or you might spike your PH a little, get as much out of the tank each time as possible and don't get it on anything you don't want to kill.
 
ladyreefseeker

ladyreefseeker

Administrator
Staff member
Peppermint Shrimp work well. We sell a group of 5 for $24.99 and with more than one, they are sure to do the trick. Above and beyond the store, I have had personal success with Peppermint Shrimp. I have even had them eat the big aiptasias.
 
J

jstdv8

Guest
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bang Guy http:///forum/thread/381902/aiptasia-advice#post_3329816
Add blended seafood to the Lime paste and you have a better chance of the Aiptasia eating it.
Bang,
Ive found that you don't even need to make them eat it. Thats how I started was tickling thier tentacles with the tip of the srynge so they think they are getting fed, but now I just cover thier face, same results.
My tank has been aiptasia free for almost a year (except for a recent rock I bought with several on it that I also took care of)
 
J

jstdv8

Guest
peppermints work great until you feed them something else, then they decide they like that better and will leave the aiptasia alone.
best Ive seen is my local fish store has a tank full of nothing but pepps and he doesnt feed them but once a week, well, he invites people to bring in thier LR with the aiptasia on it and let his peppermints eat it. they pounce on that stuff like its candy.
Take one of the shrimp home though and as soon as it realizes it can live off the tasty food you give the fish (leftovers) doesnt touch the aiptasia no more
 
monsinour

monsinour

Active Member
my pepps have not made a move toward the aiptasia. I resorted to spackling them into their holes to solve the problem. If they cant come out, i dont see them. Let them die and rot in their dark holes. bastards.
 
manners

manners

Member
i think im gonna try peppermints how many should i get i have a 46g and tons of aiptasia. ill just hope the ones i get like the aiptasia and if not owell they still look cool.
also i was wondering if my fish might try to eat them? i had a cleaner for about 1 year then one day 3 legs and antenni whent missing and he died. i have 2 clowns, 4 chromis, yellow tang, lmb, and a purpleback dottyback (<<< i think he killed my shrimp, along with a few fish ive tried to introduce after him)
 
manners

manners

Member
pritty fish , but mean a hell (should have done reserch b4 adding him) only my lmb has suvived since him probibly because he is to dumb to see him.
 
ladyreefseeker

ladyreefseeker

Administrator
Staff member
Dottybacks can be very aggressive. I recently gave away my Indigo Dottyback because he was causing trouble (and constantly dumping sand all over my goblet coral). I would try a 5 pack of Peppermint Shrimp. Hopefully the Dottyback will leave them alone long enough for them to do their job. I figure if they disappear after the aiptasia is gone, you're still better off. <---Ohw...I hope that wasn't too bad sounding lol!
 
manners

manners

Member
i dont want to give hime a way but i think i may have to. hes a really neat fish but he just looks like hes looking for trouble the way he roams the tank and stairs at any thing that is new to him or moving ( do you think he can be taking out my bluelegs to?)
 
ladyreefseeker

ladyreefseeker

Administrator
Staff member
Quote:
Originally Posted by manners http:///forum/thread/381902/aiptasia-advice#post_3330072
i dont want to give hime a way but i think i may have to. hes a really neat fish but he just looks like hes looking for trouble the way he roams the tank and stairs at any thing that is new to him or moving ( do you think he can be taking out my bluelegs to?)
Yup! Dottybacks can and will mess with/eat just about anything. Mine pulled big turbos off the glass...
 
manners

manners

Member
the wife sais that its her fish and it stays (her favorite fish) so i gess i have to put up with him... for now
 
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