Aiptasia in my star polyps ...

[mikegronholz]

Was looking at the star polyps last night when they closed up ... looks like i have 2 small aiptasias on it. Should i just let them be or get a peppermint or 2 ?

 

[wax32]

Joe's Juice. I am a firm peppermint hater ever since they ate my Ricordeas. Whatever you decide, don't just let them be, they will spread.

 

[kaia]

Don't let them be, they will just grow and spread. You need to kill them by either injecting them with calcium or buying a shrimp. Good luck.

 

[mikegronholz]

will peppermints eat the star polyps ?

 

[monalisa]

Does anyone have a really good pic of an aptaisia? I'm curious...and a little concerned. I have a hitchiker polyp of some kind that's been in my tank for many months. I just noticed that there's suddenly another one. I'll get a pic if I can...
Tried to get a decent pic, no luck. I really don't think that what I have is aptasia though, thank goodness. I would like to find out what it is, if I can get a good pic...I'll keep trying.
Lisa :happyfish

 

[speg]

Originally Posted by mikegronholz
will peppermints eat the star polyps ?
Nope. Make sure you're actually getting true peppermints though!

 

[mikegronholz]

As opposed to what ? How can i tell ? This site clearly states "These are true Caribbean Peppermint Shrimp." But how can i check at the LFS ?

 

[speg]

Well sometimes camelback shrimp are sold as peppermints... you dont want those in a reef.
Also there is a very close lookalike imposter of peppermint shrimp. Check out their names on the internet. I can never remember the scientific name of the imposter.

 

[stanlalee]

Originally Posted by Speg
Also there is a very close lookalike imposter of peppermint shrimp. Check out their names on the internet. I can never remember the scientific name of the imposter.
I think that one is an actual peppermint shrimp just from different waters (or something to that affect). I think the only difference is one is slightly darker (or something like that. either way its said you cant tell unless you have them both to compare).

 

[nomad]

Camelback shrimp have a humpback--peppermint shrimp don't have a humpback, they have an almost completely flat back with only a slight arch to it.

 

[wax32]

Lysmata wurdemanni is the shrimp you want, not Lysmata californica.

 

[mikegronholz]

OMG ... if you have never seen true peppermints attack aiptasia, it is sometihng to behold ... the LFS lady put an aiptasia covered rock with these 4 peppermints ... took them about 5 minutes and the entire rock was clean !!! It was SOOOOOO cool to watch !!!

 

[wax32]

So I take it you bought some peppermints? If it were me I'd bring that GSP rock with the Aiptasia on it and get her to sic her pepps on it.

 

[mikegronholz]

Yep, bought me just one ... wierd though ... my fire shrimp and him hang under the same rock and just sway during the day. I really thought they'd have an issue.

 

[wax32]

Why would they?

 

[mikegronholz]

Would have sworn I read somewhere that fire shrimp don't like other shrimp ... wish my clown would chill ... he is really beating up on the firefish

 

[dragonboy]

How about the peppermint shrimp on this site are they true peppermint shrimps?

 

[liquidonyx]

on this site the peppermint shrimp are listed as Lysmata wurdemanni .