Aptaisia-eating Fish.

[Nick S]

Hey folks!

Just joined this forum. I'm gonna be taking pictures of my tank soon and introducing myself and my system in the section for that on the forum. But until then, I have a question if anyone is willing to help...

I'm looking for a natural way to rid my DT of aptaisia that are now at about 10 strong, from what I counted and can see. I was thinking a filefish but I hear it may be risky. I tried peppermint shrimp but they disappear...I think my cleaner shrimp might be eating them? Now I'm thinking my best option might be a copperband butterflyfish. But I have read that it's really hit or miss.

Does anyone have any tips or pointers about maximizing my odds of getting one that will eat aptaisia? Is there a retailer that sells ones that already do so? What should I look for in the fish that may point to signs of it being one likely to eat aptaisia?

Any input is greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[ethridge78]

berghia nudibranch they will get them all

 

[Reefing Madness]

Coppebanded Butterfly
Matted Filefish
Peppermint Shrimp

When I had a Copperband, he pretty much nailed all the Aiptasia and Ball Nems in my tank, I'd even go in there and turn over rocks for him to devour them on the undersides. But ya gotta have them eat something else besides those, and thats the tough part. I fed mine Mysis Shrimp.

 

[Nick S]

Thanks for the replies. I should probably add that I have a bubble tip anemone in the tank too. Will the nudibranch bother it?

 

[Reefing Madness]

No, they won't bother anything else in the tank.

aiptasia eating nudibranch

 

[ethridge78]

No they will only eat aptaisia but once they are all gone you need to get rid of almost all of them or they will start to die off because they don't have any food if you have allot of them they will breed like crazy.

 

[wuuzzzuuppp]

As soon as the berghia nudibranch eat all the aptaisia they die off from starvation because that is all they eat. The way to go if you can find them and afford them.

I used peps im my tank. I found a place that sold some for $4 buy on get one free and bought 16 of them and threw them in my 150gal. They smoked them in a couple of days. My fist 2 I ever threw in disappeared also. Then I tried again with an army lol. I do have a cleaner also and they seem to get along fine.

 

[ethridge78]

They mostly come out at night also and hide during the day.

 

[Nick S]

Cool, thanks folks. I'm gonna get the nudibranchs then. Seems like the safest and most effective way after reading some more on them. Still have a question though...My display tank is 225 gallons with about 10 - 15 aptaisia scattered throughout the rockwork and some growing on the glass up high in a corner. I also have a 75 gallon fuge with 20-30 aptaisia. How many nudibranchs should I get? They are pricey!!!

 

[ethridge78]

If your tight on money you can get a couple like 3-10 and just wait it out if your not in a hurry they will breed like crazy I think its like every 14 days but but not 100%

 

[ethridge78]

you might post on here and see if somebody around you has them.

 

[67RedDonzi]

Would a matted filefish or copperbanded butterfly be safe in a reef tank to help get rid of aptaisia?

 

[Grissino]

I've had both a Filefish and CB. My CB is great but they're iffy. The filefish was devouring my Acans and I couldn't get him out fast enough. As far as the CB goes, get a smaller one. They seem to be easier at getting them to eat.

 

[ethridge78]

They are to hit and miss for me you never know.

 

[Nick S]

I ordered 10 nudibranchs. Cost me close to $200 so it stinks that they will eventually die. Are they easy to catch? If anyone near brooklyn, ny wants them after they're done cleaning my tank, pm me. I'll give them to you if they are easy enough to catch.

 

[Downu]

Captive bred peppermint shrimp need to be trained to eat Aiptasia.

Feed the aiptaisia & the shrimp will go for them.

 

[rjcranor]

I have 1 peppermint in mine that did the job. But a file fish is supposed to work also.

 

[ethridge78]

I ordered 10 nudibranchs. Cost me close to $200 so it stinks that they will eventually die. Are they easy to catch? If anyone near brooklyn, ny wants them after they're done cleaning my tank, pm me. I'll give them to you if they are easy enough to catch.

200 sounds alittle high most of the time you just resell them and they are easy to catch best when the lights are out.