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	Pest anemone
ckk125 Big Fish Posts: 320 Kudos: 285 Votes: 71 Registered: 30-Jul-2005	hey all..have 2 pest anemone(aiptasia)..i couldnt find any Joe's Juice to kill it..what should i do?
Posted 24-Feb-2006 16:29
sirbooks Moderator Sociopath Posts: 3875 Kudos: 5164 Votes: 932 Registered: 26-Jul-2004	You can inject a very high pH calcium powder/water mixture into the Aiptasia, or just smother it in limewater. It basically burns the anemone and kills it off. Other suggested remedies include lemon juice or hot water injected into the Aiptasia, but these may not work. Whatever you do, just be sure not to hit any nearby creatures with collateral damage. And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."
Posted 24-Feb-2006 16:52
ckk125 Big Fish Posts: 320 Kudos: 285 Votes: 71 Registered: 30-Jul-2005	thanks for the quick reply.how can i inject hotwater into the anemone?or should i take the rock out then only pour those lemon/lime juice in?thx alot.
Posted 24-Feb-2006 16:56
DarkRealm Overlord Moderator metal-R-us Posts: 5962 Kudos: 2166 Registered: 23-Sep-2002	get some Kalkwasser, or pickling lime (same stuff as kalk, just a little lower quality) and make a paste with it by mixing it with a little water. The paste should be thick like toothpaste....then just use a big syringe and apply it to the aiptasia. Be sure to turn off your powerheads, etc so it doesnt drift around the tank while applying it.
Posted 24-Feb-2006 20:38
bodangit Hobbyist Posts: 97 Kudos: 37 Votes: 10 Registered: 19-Jan-2006	Just pull it out of your tank and stomp on it! DUH ________________________________________________ I like Led Zeppelin.
Posted 25-Feb-2006 00:26
sham Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 3369 Kudos: 2782 Votes: 98 Registered: 21-Apr-2004	For lack of anything else to use I took a dropper and squirted my 2 small ones with straight cold RO water. Then sucked out any remains. It actually worked but I wouldn't say it's in anyway guranteed. If you leave behind even a tiny chunk these guys will not only reqrow but can multiply. Do not use any method that involves pulling them or chopping them up. The little pieces will spread all over your tank and you'll have 20 aiptasia instead of 2. I've also heard suggested to make them retract and then superglue them into the rock if they are in a hole and nothing else works.
Posted 25-Feb-2006 01:53
dthurs Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 4340 Kudos: 4170 Votes: 529 Registered: 18-Feb-2003	A shot of PHup will do it. Dan
Posted 25-Feb-2006 14:08
jmara Big Fish Posts: 438 Kudos: 431 Votes: 145 Registered: 06-Mar-2003	I don't mean to hijack this thread but does anyone have a picture of these little guys...I think I might have one...How big are they? -Josh
Posted 27-Feb-2006 21:13
sham Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 3369 Kudos: 2782 Votes: 98 Registered: 21-Apr-2004	I found when I went looking for pics to identify mine that they aren't all the same. Basically if you have hitchhiking anemones there's a very slim chances it's something you want to leave alone. They are probably either aiptasia or majano both of which can spread to pest proportions and then begin stinging anything else in the tank. Try a google image search for either of those and you'll get about 50 correct but different looking pics.
Posted 27-Feb-2006 23:00
dthurs Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 4340 Kudos: 4170 Votes: 529 Registered: 18-Feb-2003	This is the only picture I can find of mine that show aptasia, they are behind the polips. [link]http://www.thurs.net/dan/personal/saltwater tank/star polyps.jpg[/link] Dan
Posted 28-Feb-2006 00:17
jmara Big Fish Posts: 438 Kudos: 431 Votes: 145 Registered: 06-Mar-2003	Isn't pHup just Ammonium Hydroxide? So if I were to et rid of this little guy, could I just remove that piece of live rock from the aquarium and then shoot it with some straight NH3OH? I have a chemist lab full of fun chemicals so I could choose pretty much anything Thanks -Josh
Posted 28-Feb-2006 01:00
ckk125 Big Fish Posts: 320 Kudos: 285 Votes: 71 Registered: 30-Jul-2005	i just gave them 1.5ml of lime juice and busted them.
Posted 28-Feb-2006 04:47
jmara Big Fish Posts: 438 Kudos: 431 Votes: 145 Registered: 06-Mar-2003	Is it true that Hermit Crabs eat Aiptasia? I found the following quote at http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/cnidaria/anthozoa/aiptasia/aiptasia.htm Perhaps the best (cheapest, most readily available, easiest to track and remove...) Aiptasia nemesis are a few Hermit Crabs. In particular the more common "Red Legged ("Hairy" Hermit Crab, Dardanus megistos (Image) is an almost-all-the-time reef-safe animal that also eats pest algae. One or two to a tank is all it takes. -Josh
Posted 19-Mar-2006 06:14
sham Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 3369 Kudos: 2782 Votes: 98 Registered: 21-Apr-2004	My blue legged hermits don't. They avoid them and the majano I ended up with. I've since added a peppermint shrimp because he's cool and he's already eaten some aiptasia that was still around so I won't have to worry about it again.
Posted 19-Mar-2006 07:35
sirbooks Moderator Sociopath Posts: 3875 Kudos: 5164 Votes: 932 Registered: 26-Jul-2004	I have never heard of hermits consuming Aiptasia. They eat pretty much everything, but I can't really see them as efficient Aiptasia removers. And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."
Posted 19-Mar-2006 16:21
terranova Fish Master Posts: 1984 Kudos: 1889 Votes: 229 Registered: 09-Jul-2003	As a general rule, no, but there are always exceptions. Copperbanded butterflys and peppermint shrimp are efficient aiptasia eating animals suitable for the home aquarium. -Formerly known as the Ferretfish
Posted 19-Mar-2006 23:37
jmara Big Fish Posts: 438 Kudos: 431 Votes: 145 Registered: 06-Mar-2003	Out of curiosity, would you say that most peppermint shrimp eat aiptasia or would you say just a few out of a bunch? I went to one of the LFS and the owner said maybe 1 out of 10 peppermint shrimp will even consider eating one. Well he didn't carry them so I went somewhere else and the lady said within a few days they will eradicate any that are in the tank. I ask because I got three of them a few days ago and I just don't want to expect sometime unrealistic...I'm not expecting them to magically disappear over night Just curious...thanks -Josh
Posted 07-Apr-2006 06:47
DarkRealm Overlord Moderator metal-R-us Posts: 5962 Kudos: 2166 Registered: 23-Sep-2002	Out of curiosity, would you say that most peppermint shrimp eat aiptasia or would you say just a few out of a bunch? If they are indeed peppermint shrimp and not camelback shrimp then yes they will eat aiptasia...the key is to not overfeed the tank because if they are getting the food from you then they WILL ignore the aiptasia.
Posted 07-Apr-2006 07:14
jmara Big Fish Posts: 438 Kudos: 431 Votes: 145 Registered: 06-Mar-2003	Thanks DRO...I need to figure out the difference between the two and then figure out which I have. Thank you for the tip. They were sold as peppermint shrimp but that doesn't necessarily means anything -Josh
Posted 07-Apr-2006 09:23
ACIDRAIN Moderator Posts: 3162 Kudos: 1381 Votes: 416 Registered: 14-Jan-2002	On a side note, they will remove nitrates from the water. If they are not hurting anything, as like corals (this is posted in the GM) then why bother killing them? After all they are very hard to completely eradicate, as if you have one, there are probably a half dozen more small ones you have not seen yet. But, they are working for your tank. And when they get larger, they don't look bad. And really won't hurt your fish. So why not let them work for you? Now if it is a coral tank, that is another story. _____________________________________________________________ There is always a bigger fish...
Posted 07-Apr-2006 11:58
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