ID possible anemone?

[eryn]

I noticed this little guy on a piece of LR in my tank today! It sure looks like an anemone to me but I'm not sure?!?! It is tiny so I'm sorry the picture isn't better but it is only about an 1" in diameter so I had to zoom a lot to get a good shot! Thanks everyone!

 

[cranberry]

Aiptasia.... you don't want it.... it's a pest. They sting, are prolific and the hardiest thing on the food chain.

 

[eryn]

I hadn't heard of them, so I searched on the board and it seems like everyone that is complaining about them has a reef tank, I plan on keeping this tank a FOWLR so is there really a reason to get rid of them? I only see the one so far...
*Edited* I haven't added much of a cleaning crew tank yet as this tank is just coming to the end of it's cycle, can I add a peppermint shrimp with turbo snails? I know they will eat zoas but since it is FOWLR I'm just concerned with what I can't add if I add a peppermint or two?? Thanks everyone!

 

[cranberry]

They sting fish as well, any who brush against them. And you may only have one now, but if left alone they will literally take over every square inch of your rock.

 

[eryn]

Thanks cranberry! I definitely need to get them out then, I edited my last post it seems while you were responded to ask about peppermint shrimp! Luckily since I found it before I got everything in there I can change my stocking plan to accommodate the peppermint shrimp, just need to know what they don't work well with! Thanks so much for the fast replies!

 

[cranberry]

I've never had a pepp eat a zoa. I have pepps in all my tanks where they won't be eaten.

 

[eryn]

Ok well there was nothing else on the rock so I just threw it in boiling water... Hopefully that will do the trick!

 

[natclanwy]

By throwing it in boiling water you also killed all of the other life on and in the rock just because you can't see doesn't mean its not there. So you will need to recure the rock as you will probably get an amonia spike.
Since you are going FO the peppermints won't bother anything in your tank. You won't be able to add any other aggressive inverts though like coral banded shrimp and Sally lightfoot crabs they will make a quick meal out of peppermints.