It's taking over . . . but what is it?

[mkrosal]

see attachments . . .
I've had my tank set up for about 3 months now and these are starting to take over every piece of live rock . . . but what is it? are they bad?

 

[majormaz]

That would be aptasia anemone my friend, you can consider them bad since they will sting and kill your coral.

 

[kaingers]

keyword "Aiptasia" Short answer: bad. Short resolution: Joes Juice and a Pepermint Shrimp.

 

[nycbob]

joes juice works well if u hv a few of them. peppermint shrimps r known to eat them, but not guarantee. they will spread if u dont eradicate them early on.

 

[oceanlover]

Don't panic. Aptasia is not the end of the world, its a nuisance. There are many threads on this website that deal with aptasia so you can read them. Most will advise you to inject with Joe's Juice, a lemon juice mixture, etc. Think of them as weeds in your garden, you just have to be vigileant in plucking them out. (Don't try to pull the aptasia out with your fingers- it just disintegrates and forms in numerous other places.)

 

[hambone]

I have one in my tank also, only one. But its BIG. Probably 3 inches tall and 2 across. I just bought a peppermint shrimp, but as of yet, he hasn't touched it. Any suggestions? Do aiptasia always reproduce? It looks nice, but I've been warned against them. Would it be OK to leave it and see if it stays a loner? Any way to entice the shrimp to it?

 

[mike2river]

as a non chemical solution ive used a surenge and shot them with boiling tap water they close up pretty quick so you have to be fast. it took me about three shots to kill them. when it popped back out it looked half dead so i shot it again .my peppermint shrimp might have finished it off? but he wouldnt go near it before .i think he could sense weakness .

 

[cowfishrule]

my peppermint shrimp took almost 2 weeks before he even looked at an aiptasia. then, over night, he whacked all three that i had.
give him time, my friend.
couldnt hurt to double up on the shrimp as well.

 

[jkp rules]

I'm not exactly an expert, but I worked at an LFS for a while and we found that while peppermints will eat them, they do more to get rid if an infestation when the aptaisa are small but generally don't touch them when they get massive.

 

[rebelprettyboy]

Whenever I get.
I take the rock out the tank
Look at carefully
Put my googles on
And attack the rock. I bite em off from the bare bottom. And im aiptasia free...

 

[hambone]

If you use a razor and cut the offender off at the rock, will it die? Been afraid to try that. I've heard that if you damage them in any way that the pieces multiply even faster wherever they land. Is this a viable option?

 

[rebelprettyboy]

Originally Posted by hambone
http:///forum/post/2696820
If you use a razor and cut the offender off at the rock, will it die? Been afraid to try that. I've heard that if you damage them in any way that the pieces multiply even faster wherever they land. Is this a viable option?
No dont use a razor blade. Cuz ur proly not goona get it and itll spread even faster. What u heard is true.
Unless u go with my mthod bite that sucker off and suck all the jucies out. I swear it gets it alll the time

 

[reefforbrains]

This has come up before.
Just remove the rock and give it a blast. Remember it is imprtant to make the little screaming noise at same time.
Method will work without the noise but not as well.

 

[frog/lionman]

Originally Posted by rebelprettyboy
http:///forum/post/2696811
Whenever I get.
I take the rock out the tank
Look at carefully
Put my googles on
And attack the rock. I bite em off from the bare bottom. And im aiptasia free...
Please forgive my ignorance, do you really bite them off with your teeth?