Grrrr! Aiptasia!

[wmshoemaker]

So, after reading through the forums, I figured out that those little anemonie thingyies (Aiptasia) are bad. Apparently, they are really bad. I also read that Peppermint Shrimp will devour those things, so I think I'm going to get a couple.

Before I do, I have some questions though. #1 How many shrimp should I get? I have a 26 gallon set up and the Aiptasia is everywhere. If I get the shrimp and they eat them all, will the shrimp have enough other food afterwords, or should I just get one? Or should I get more than 2? I feed my damels flake food one every other day right now.

Also, is there anything else I can get to eat that stuff? My plan is to get some clown fish and decent anemones plus some more coral, but not a huge amount.

Thanks.

[Mike O'Brien]

Hi. I would get 3 or 4 of them. You could probably trade a few back to the store afterward if you like. You should also try to increase the water quality and/or the amount of food floating around the tank. When they can feed from the water column, they increase in numbers quickly. In really clean tanks, that generally doesn't happen.

[ando]

+1 on the post above

[Pworld1]

Why are anemonie thingyies (Aiptasia) bad?

[wmshoemaker]

Originally Posted by Pworld1

Why are anemonie thingyies (Aiptasia) bad?

"Competing for food and space, they have the capability to move about by creeping along rapidly, or detaching and drifting to a new location, which makes it easy for them to attack and kill other types of anemones, sea mats, zoanthids, polyps, most corals, and other sessile invertebrates."

Full article:
http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/msu...p/aiptasia.htm

[wmshoemaker]

Originally Posted by Mike O'Brien

Hi. I would get 3 or 4 of them. You could probably trade a few back to the store afterward if you like. You should also try to increase the water quality and/or the amount of food floating around the tank. When they can feed from the water column, they increase in numbers quickly. In really clean tanks, that generally doesn't happen.

Thanks for the info. I'm def. going this weekend to get a few. And look around for another invert or something. Gotta see how the finances go first...

[Maliguy]

I dont know about getting 3 or 4 of them, thats alot. I have a 55gallon and I bought just 1 to assist in cleaning it out. If you get 3 or 4, you will loose some because they will be competeing for food, and space just like your aptasia. What I did is bought just the one (to deal with the smaller or hidden aptasia) and i treated the huge ones i had with Aptasia X. Worked like a charm. Every once in a while I see a small aptasia, by the next day it is gone, and there are no large ones so I know he is eating well. With a 26 gallon I'd say just get 1! and some aptasia x!


Guess it does depend on how bad your aptasia infestation is. I dont trade in livestock, so I keep what i buy (unless its sick). I only buy enough to balance the tank. Plus most LFS in my area want no traces of anything in the water, perfect conditions when you return something. When their own water doesnt even have 0ppm nitrates.

[wmshoemaker]

Thanks for the info Maliguy. That does bring me to a question though. I have some aptasia that is pretty big. Would the shrimp eat that? Thanks.

[GSELLERS1245]

here's a ghetto way i clean all infested rocks.
1. get a 10 gallon tank
2. add simple filtration to support the life of the shrimp (sponge filter or hang on filter)
3. starve the shrimp for a week
4. add infested rock to shrimp tank
5. watch them swarm like an army to clean everything off of the rock including aiptasia
6. after about 10 minutes (yes thats about as long as it takes) add rock back to the main tank
7. repeat with next rock the next day or couple days after depending on the shrimps appetite


good luck

[wmshoemaker]

That sounds so cruel! lol. I'd rather just throw the shrimp into the main tank. It only has a coupe damsels in there anyway, with come crabs, snails and a starfish. The shrimp should add to the tank!