aiptasia

deg40

AC Members
Mar 17, 2005
40
0
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Pittsburgh
When I bought my live rock I got probably close to a dozen hitchhiker aiptasias. I just set the tank up and it is still cycling so it really isn't doing any harm in there now so I would rather not take the rock out. I read that peppermint shrimp will eat them. How many would I need for a 29g? I wanted cleaner shrimp anyway, but if these guys eat the aiptasia are they are going to eat stuff I want later? Somebody also told me that red legged hermit crabs would eat it. Is that true? Are they are better option than the shrimp? Thanks!
 
large peppermint shrimp will eat it, but don't give the shrimps anything else to eat. i hate aiptasia. i've been killing them for months, but they multiply faster then i can control them. :joe: there is a worm you can buy that eats only aiptasia and dies off when all is gone.
 
I have 2 peppermints in my 90 gallon tank and they take care of all aiptasia. I agree not to feed them. i used to give them some algae to impress people that I can feed them by hand and the aiptasia come back. If that doesn't work, I have heard boiling water in a syringe will do it and be reef safe although I have never tried that. Before the peppermints I would get a 1 ml syringe and fill it with a kalkwasser / saltwater paste. Just make sure you monitor alk etc. when you do this.

Mike
 
Normally there is enough food in a reef to support a peppermint or two.

I do see mine occasionaly foraging for food but i never feed it, and it is in a 75 gal.
 
Joe's Juice is well worth the money if you're looking for a quick and ready made remedy and especially now that the tank is still cycling. You can turn the liverock over and get the ones on the bottom.
 
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