Aptasia troubles

Hangfire · #1 08-18-2008, 09:29 PM

So my tank is rapidly filling up with these little buggers and I'm sort of at a loss as to getting rid of them. I'm not really sure that I want to put a peppermint shrimp in my tank just to get rid of them. I was wondering if anyone has one of those nudibranches that eat aptasia? I was thinking that I might get one, and then try to catch him when he eats the last one and pass him on so he doesn't starve. Anyone be interested in something like that? I would hate to buy this critter knowing he was going to die from starvation after it's done me a great service.

parkinsn · #2 08-18-2008, 09:38 PM

my understanding of the berghia is that they hunt in pack's, this seems to be the best site i have found for them. If only you lived in calgary i would do a group order with you, cuz i have i aptasia problem as well

http://coralscaping.com/berghia_1.html

Hangfire · #3 08-18-2008, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by parkinsn

. . . they hunt in pack's . . .

This is pretty funny. I can see them now, surrounding the unsuspecting aptasia before going in for the kill.

I wish you lived in Vancouver

. I figured that there would be at least a few people around with the same problem as me. It's too darn bad that the really nice beautiful anemones aren't as hardy as these things. I can't seem to kill them at all, and I've tried!

slakker · #4 08-18-2008, 09:46 PM

too bad... I'm in Vancouver but just put in some peppermints last month to control my aptasia and flatworms...

wickedfrags · #5 08-18-2008, 09:51 PM

what size tank?

I have a copperband butterfly that eats the aptasia out of my hand! Downside, you need a larger tank to keep them long-term unless you can get them to eat prepared foods (which can be tricky). No gurantee they will eat aptasia also...

Hangfire · #6 08-18-2008, 09:51 PM

Well let me know how the peppermints do slakker - and I didn't know they ate flatworms as well. Interesting. Still, I'd hate to get some shrimp and have them walk over the aptasia to get to something they find tastier.

Marlin65 · #7 08-18-2008, 10:12 PM

I had them in my old tank and peppermints took care of them. If you have clams I would not put them in though.

Hangfire · #8 08-18-2008, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wickedfrags.com

what size tank?

The tank is only 38 gallons

Quote:

Originally Posted by wickedfrags.com

I have a copperband butterfly that eats the aptasia out of my hand! Downside, you need a larger tank to keep them long-term unless you can get them to eat prepared foods (which can be tricky). No gurantee they will eat aptasia also...

What other things do they eat? I thought I had read that they also really like feather duster worms - I have a ton of them in the tank (but I kinda like them, so I wouldn't want to see them all disappear).

slakker · #9 08-18-2008, 10:48 PM

It seems to have done the trick, but I did a few things at once... so the background is my 14G Biocube got an aptasia and flatworm "bloom". I went and got a peppermint, a six line and increased the water flow. I also did a fresh water dip on the corals (amazing how much flatworms came off). It's about a month now and aptasia and flatworms are gone. At least I can't find any when I look (and I'm trying pretty hard).

But I did have to move my flasher wrasse as the six line was picking on it. The scarlet that in the tank is good with the peppermint.

Evil Guppy · #10 08-19-2008, 04:31 AM

I had a bit of Aiptasia problem as well and 2 Peppermint Shrimp solved the problem. The Aiptasia that I had were all pretty small though. I've heard that if the aiptasia are too big, the Peppermints wont eat them... but I dont have any experience with this firsthand.

As for Flatworms, mine don't seem to be interested in eating them at all.