Aiptasia on Zoa frag - how to proceed

[ilikefish69]

So I noticed my utter chaos Zoa have a little aiptasia baby sprouting from the base of the one of the polyps. I’m 99% sure that’s what it is. Couldn’t get great pic but it looks like half of one of these.

If you have experienced this before, how would you proceed?

the polyps are closed because I did a peroxide dip. I noticed the polyps closing due to algae (I thought) and luckily have discovered what I believe to be the first aiptasia specimen in my tank.

I will of course start my research but wanted to get this out there to see if anyone has tried and true experience quick to share

 

[Katrina71]

Scrape it off out of water and super glue over it. Probably fine. Ime

 

[ninjamyst]

Take a scalpel and just scrape it off if you can get the frag out of water. If not, get one of the many aiptasia paste available and kill it.

What I also do is keep a peppermint shrimp inside a breeder box in my sump. If I get frags with aiptasia, I put the frag in the breeder box for 2 days and the shrimp will take care of all the aiptasia.

 

[Cell]

Superglue it.

 

[ilikefish69]

Thank you for the help,I think I’ll grab a peppermint shrimp and some super glue, and aiptasia X. And proceed to destroy.

 

[Koh23]

Same boat here....

Also utter chaos zoa, small aiptasia....

I superglued it 5 times already, and did 3 aiptasia x "shots"... And every single time, all is great for a few days, and then aiptasia is back, at the same spot....

Now i dont touch her, plan is to simply frag that frag, rather throw one-two heads, than having aiptasia in tank...

 

[ilikefish69]

Dude I had the same thought. Was going to try and get a polyp or two onto a new frag and ditch the other frag altogether. Maybe between the two of us we could get this done. Let me know if you go this route. Haven’t even started treating her, have to grab aiptasia X after work today

 

[Koh23]

Like i said, apitasia x for some reason didnt work, for few days aiptasia is gone, then its back....

She is next to zoa head, maybe i can just shave that part of rock, loose that head, and solve problem...

 

[ilikefish69]

Man that sucks I have only read positive reviews about aiptasia X but never used it myself.

I was thinking about slicing off the polyp it’s attached to. Worried it might kill all the other polyps though. This is last night after peroxide dip, the aiptasia is attached to the very top polyp

 

[Tired]

You have to be really sure to completely cover the aiptasia with liquid superglue, or it'll just pop out the side. Scraping off whatever chunk it's on is probably the surest method.

 

[ilikefish69]

Could just slice those two polyps clean at the base and remove the aiptasia with it. Have u read up on berghia nudibranches?

 

[Tired]

Berghias are WAY overkill for 1 or 2 anemones. They're great for infestations, though.

 

[ilikefish69]

I mean if overkill gets the job done, I am not opposed… I don’t want to lose my big polyp zoas everything else is so small

 

[Koh23]

Maybe i did something wrong, but so far, aiptasia x didnt do the job....

On the other hand, hammer solve everyrhing

 

[ilikefish69]

NOOOO do not hammer smash your frag!!!

If it does end up dying, as soon as I can frag mine out I’ll send you a frag of aiptasia free polyps if u pay for shipping. Mine came from a friend so I really need to pass it on ya know

 

[Koh23]

I still need to decide, McHammer or Sledge Hammer....

Kidding, but loosing small piece of rock and one zoa head is nothing comparing to aiptasia kingdom in tank....

Thank you for your offer, sadly, this will be most expensive frag in history of reefing hobby, if u ship me, too far away, and considering deadline in wich package needs to arrive before it turn into puddle of goo...... Probably fabege egg is cheaper

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I mean if overkill gets the job done, I am not opposed… I don’t want to lose my big polyp zoas everything else is so small

You'll starve the nudibranches before they ever find the aiptasia...

 

[ilikefish69]

You'll starve the nudibranches before they ever find the aiptasia...

Yea a little bit more googling helping me come to the conclusion that berghia were not the right tool for this job. I used a mixed of aiptasia x and super glue and a tiny pair of needle nose pliers last night. There was no sign of it this morning. Polyps still a little closed up from peroxide dip 2 days ago, but they're slowly opening. HOPING this got it done, and I will now be prepared for if/when the second aiptasia pops up as I have already collected the required substances to destroy them. Thank you for all the help!!

However Erin while I got you here, is there any chance that skull you had growing the coral on it, was the name of that coral "cyphastrea"?

 

[Tuan’s Reef]

i have same the problem. One hitched on my zoa frag.....why are they always in the middle of zoas? lol

I was going to try the super glue method .... or kalk paste , not sure yet lol

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

i have same the problem. One hitched on my zoa frag.....why are they always in the middle of zoas? lol

I was going to try the super glue method .... or kalk paste , not sure yet lol

From the looks of this frag, it might be easiest to peel the zoas off the plug (or pop the glue+zoas off) and put them on something else. (If the aiptasia comes off with the zoas, then I'd use tweezers to detach it from the coral).

OR -- toss it in a tank with a peppermint shrimp .