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ohioballer
Guest
how do i get rid of these anemones?
shadow678
Member
Many retailers, both LFS' and online, often sell several species of shrimp labeled "peppermint", some will eat the aptasia, and some will not. One almost definate method of ridding the tank of them is to injest the anemones with a very strong kalkwasser solution using a hypodermic needle. Not only does the puncture cause it stress, but the kalk saolution will dissolve what is left, and you get the added benefit of a little better calcium level in your tank. lol
nacl-h2o
Active Member
The kalk method Shadow mentioned is the best way to go as animals that control it often eat some corals(copper bands & peppermints) or eat only aiptasia(nudis) and then starve after their gone. If you don't have a hypodermic needle a medicen dropper pushing it out right on top of the oral disk is usually just as effective.
nacl-h2o
Active Member
Don't get me wrong peppermints do a great job on aiptasias. The problen is after the aiptasias are gone the have a bad habit of turning to other corals. They're notorious for eating yellow polyps, sea mat, botton polyps, xenia, and sand polyps and have been know to pester mushrooms amoung others. Sometimes their safe, sometimes their not.
richard rendos
Active Member
I used peppermint shrimp for aiptasia control. They worked for me, and haven't seen them bothering anything else in the tank now that all the aiptasia are gone. They eat food right along with my fish, though.
frankl15207
Member
Same as the kalk solution mentioned above. Mix a tablespoon of pickling lime to two tablespoons of water. Nuke it in a microwave for 30 seconds. Let the solution cool. Inject them if you can, or just get the solution on them and they will dissolve.
Peppermint shrimp are hit and miss and tend to stay away from the larger ones. They never seemed to bother any of my polyps or anything else in the tank, but there's always the exceptions to that rule. Camelbacks on the other hand look like peppermints and will eat polyps (littles b******ds
).
Copperbands will do the job, but they are not the hardiest of fish and will pick your rock clean of amphipods. In my case however, it was the "final" solution.
Peppermint shrimp are hit and miss and tend to stay away from the larger ones. They never seemed to bother any of my polyps or anything else in the tank, but there's always the exceptions to that rule. Camelbacks on the other hand look like peppermints and will eat polyps (littles b******ds
).Copperbands will do the job, but they are not the hardiest of fish and will pick your rock clean of amphipods. In my case however, it was the "final" solution.
iechy
Member
Just to add my experience. I bought two peps to take care of a tiny hitchiker aptasia and they haven't paid it any attention. I'm glad I have them cause they are cute but I can support the hit or miss thing. It has been moving lately nearing my sun polyps so I guess it's time for me to do a little injecting myself.
dburr
Active Member
I had 1 on my rock about a year and a half ago and I gouged it out with a knife while sucking the debris out with a shiphone.
I've not had them since, and I don't recomend doing it, but it worked for me.
Also, I just read an article in a magazine that uses corels with a stronger sting. Like hydrophora (sp). Just move the corel next to the apts for a few days, and it will sting them. You must use a corel with a stonger sting or it will be useless. It works in therory, I don't know how well in the tank. it's just another option.
good luck.
I've not had them since, and I don't recomend doing it, but it worked for me.
Also, I just read an article in a magazine that uses corels with a stronger sting. Like hydrophora (sp). Just move the corel next to the apts for a few days, and it will sting them. You must use a corel with a stonger sting or it will be useless. It works in therory, I don't know how well in the tank. it's just another option.
good luck.
frankl15207
Member
I never tried calcium buffer, but I'm not sure that it has enough calc to blow them away. I have used solid calcium chloride which is difficult to get into the anemone.
I think picking lime runs about $1.50 for 16 ounces. The one tablespoon solution does a lot of them in. I gave half of mine to someone else with a big aiptasia problem and still have most of the other half left.
I think picking lime runs about $1.50 for 16 ounces. The one tablespoon solution does a lot of them in. I gave half of mine to someone else with a big aiptasia problem and still have most of the other half left.
j21kickster
Active Member
unless you have a large enough tank and are going to dedicate the time to ensure it dosent die- skip the copperband. they dont alwas eat them either- the kalk solution is your best bet
