Does Aptasia extend and withdraw?

[sueandherzoo]

From all the reading and looking I've done on here this thing is probably aptasia, right? But no one has ever mentioned it "extending it's neck" and drawing itself back in again to be flat with the rock's surface. Does Aptasia do that? When the light is off it's neck comes out of the rock and it's tall but when I put the light on it sinks back into the rock, like in this picture.

 

[bigarn]

yep ... it's aiptasia. they will extend and retract as you described.

 

[sueandherzoo]

Originally Posted by bigarn
http:///forum/post/2740712
yep ... it's aiptasia. they will extend and retract as you described.
Crap. Was hoping it was something desirable since it's about the most entertaining thing I have in there right now, but I had a hunch it wasn't going to be good news. I have had a peppermint shrimp in there for about a week and she doesn't seem interested. SOMEONE (snails or crabs?) have taken off a chunk of the live rock that the aiptasia was living on so I thought it was history and then the next day there it was, poking out through the rubble left by the missing rock chunk. I guess it has long roots.

 

[shaunalynna]

Try a Klines Butterfly if you can add another fish. They do better then the shrimp or so mine did anyhow on getting rid of our apatasia. Best of luck as this can be a pain to get rid of. I find it pretty neat to watch myself when we had it but knew as well it had to go. It does spread so be careful!

 

[cranberry]

If it's a loner, zap it with vinegar or kalk or one of the other products made to get rid of them.

 

[sueandherzoo]

Originally Posted by Cranberry
http:///forum/post/2741339
If it's a loner, zap it with vinegar or kalk or one of the other products made to get rid of them.
I've read about putting stuff on it to kill it and I've always wondered - do you remove the rock from the tank or can you do it while it's in place? Doesn't it throw off the water chemistry in the tank? Since salt water tanks seem to be so sensitive and reactive to any change I can't imagine I could get away with putting vinegar in the water, or could I?
Sue

 

[girlina4x4]

I had the same problem, this thread I posted might be helpful. I ended up getting 2 peppermint shrimp. The next day, the larger of the two aptasia was totally gone.
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/332225/peppermint-shrimp-apatasia-killers

 

[sueandherzoo]

Thanks Girlina, that's the info I was looking for! I may try one more peppermint shrimp and if he/she doesn't touch the aptaisia, I'll take the rock out and do the boiling water/vinegar route. It's a shame, though..... it's probably my first anemone and I'm trying to kill it.
Sue

 

[subielover]

Just be careful with the pep shrimps, they have been know to chew on some coral, especially zoas

I would try to use aiptasia-x or joe's juice. Should be gone in no time.

 

[sueandherzoo]

Are those items usually readily available at LFS's or do I need to order it online?

 

[jimvette1]

Originally Posted by SueAndHerZoo
http:///forum/post/2741999
Are those items usually readily available at LFS's or do I need to order it online?
That's a hard question to answer, don't know what kind of stock your local store carries, mine has it all.

Just call your LFS to be sure.
Or, it is available online, too if you want to wait for delivery!

 

[socal57che]

Do you just have one or two of these guys?
If so, I wouldn't add livestock to eliminate them. If you were going to add a peppermint anyway then that's a different story, but to add livestock to eradicate a single pest is the wrong way to approach it, IMO.
I'd use lemon juice, joes juice or Kalkwasser paste.

Also, since you don't have other coral on the rock, you can pull it out of the water and blast it with a small hand-held crem brulee' torch. ($7)
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=42099

 

[sueandherzoo]

Originally Posted by socal57che
http:///forum/post/2743486
Also, since you don't have other coral on the rock, you can pull it out of the water and blast it with a small hand-held crem brulee' torch. ($7)
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=42099
Oh my - here I am feeling badly that I'm contemplating killing it at all and you want me to brutally murder it!?!?! The poor thing waves it's tentacles at me in an attempt to befriend me so that I'll spare it it's life - and it's starting to succeed!

Yes, so far it's only one sighting of aiptasia and yes, I was looking for an excuse to buy something for the tank so a peppermint shrimp seemed harmless enough. She's somewhat entertaining but shows no interest in the aiptasia. I did buy Joe's Juice yesterday -- whether or not I actually use it right away or not is yet to be seen. I don't have any fish or corals in there yet so my aiptasia my only "anemone".

Sue