Another Aiptasia ID question

benapilot · Oct 6, 2016

I've had this guy on this rock for a few months now. It was in my 46 and survived the transfer to my new 75. I remember seeing it as just a little guy but never got around to doing anything about it. Now it's about the size of a Silver Dollar. No other specimens in the tank.

I've got a Peppermint shrimp in the tank now who hasn't touched it. Could this be the noninvasive glass anemone? Or does my Peppermint shrimp just not have a taste for it?

reeferfoxx · Oct 6, 2016

Looks like aiptasia. Have you looked into maybe majano nem?

Untamedrose · Oct 6, 2016

a peppermint Not going after it isnt a clear sign either way... IMO peppermints are the least effective method of dealing with aiptasia. Most wont touch them.

If your asking if you HAVE to remove it. No. It's your tank can do what you want.
Even if it does spread its not going to Poof you have hundreds over night.
I kept one in an older tank I had as it was a pretty purple striped one, I just stayed on top of any others that popped up as 1 was ok ...6, 20, etc was not.

Would suggest moving that LSP coral though...looks like its killed/harmed one of the heads already.

azbigjohn · Oct 6, 2016

Generally, Peppermints will only go for smaller, or damaged aptasia. Once they get that big, pretty much it would take injecting with boiling water (harder than it sounds) or coating in aptasia X or Kalk is about your best remedy.

I also agree that keeping it is not always an awful idea, as long as you knock down any new ones...

Fourstars · Oct 7, 2016

Be careful trying to use any of these methods to try to remove. I have found that when they get this big and you attack them, the will spit planula larva and then you will have hundreds of babies. I have covered large ones before with aptasiax , only to watch them spit it back out. I would remove that rock and remove manually. be careful not to leave and flesh and rinse rock well in salt water before replacing.