Aiptasia Anemones

[jamesd523]

Hi Guys,

So, when I bought my live rock, I noticed that there was a small anemone on one of the large rocks. I've been letting it live because I thought it was kind of pretty, and I don't have much in my tank. Today, I was looking it up and found out that they are not a good thing to have in my tank. :frustrat:

I know it's a horrible picture, and you can't see. I will try to take another pic when I get home. It looks like this:

Anybody have any ideas on the best way to get rid of this guy? I've noticed that it has a few babies around it... now that I know they are bad, I'll get rid of them.

Thanks!

 

[Reefgyrl]

Inject them with white vinegar. That is how I killed mine. If you don't they will spread like crazy. I use a syringe to inject it right in the middle of them. If you try and pull them off they will spread and just come back. Good Luck

 

[cthegame]

I've never heard of injecting them with vinegar before...not sure if that is good or bad...

What i do know, is that peppermint shrimps will eat aiptisia
and a product called Joe's Juice will kill it if injected directly into the anemone.

 

[Reefgyrl]

It's safe as long as you don't get crazy with the vinegar. It won't affect your PH either. I've been using that method for years. A lot of people inject them with calcium too, but the peppermint shrimp will work as well.

 

[bjohanson1234]

I tried smothering them in kalk paste they came back, never did try injecting them with anything but bought 4 peppermint shrimp and within 2 weeks the apstasia were gone. Plus the shrimp look cool

Brian

 

[reeffreak]

I wouldn't go out and buy Joe's Juice for this one aiptasia yet.Inject it with boiling water or a small bit of lemon juice through a syringe.If you don't have a syringe then remove the rock and smear salt paste on the aiptasia.Mix a small amount of marine salt and a bit of water.

 

[jamesd523]

Sounds good. If I decide to go with the peppermint shrimp, are they reef safe? Would I be better off with the lemon juice? (I read about that one today)

 

[cthegame]

Yes, they are reef safe.

By the way, freak i never knew about the salt pasting...im going to try it myself.

 

[yote]

I've killed a few aiptasias by just injecting them with air.Used calcium and magnesium.
But its a lot more fun to watch pepperments eat them.

 

[hibye]

Bifferwine suggested that i used a thick paste of sea salt and that worked cause my fish killed the peppermint shrimp which is unlikely for a clown,sixlin, and a gobie

 

[UnderwaterWorld]

I would use peppermint shrimp because they are preventative also

 

[reeffreak]

You shouldn't add a peppermint shrimp unless the cycle has been complete for at least a month.They are pretty sensitive,if everything is stable then go ahead an add a peppermint shrimp or two or three.I find them a hit and miss myself.It sometimes takes months for my shrimps to get to work,if at all.

 

[jamesd523]

Okay, Thanks!

I think I'll try to kill them first, then add some peppermints in to keep them from coming back once things have settled in the tank.

 

[kyle]

I've never heard of injecting them with vinegar before...not sure if that is good or bad...

What i do know, is that peppermint shrimps will eat aiptisia
and a product called Joe's Juice will kill it if injected directly into the anemone.

oit is a sertan peppershrimp so ask for it by name Lysmata wurdemann i thoght i had these once i was wrong but i looked it up any ways but if u try the shrimp let me know so i can try it if i get some good luck

 

[Bifferwine]

Peppermint shrimp are a good, natural way to go. In the past, I've used a thick salt paste and a thick kalkwasser paste, and both methods have worked fine.