Berghia Nudibranchs for the Dreaded Aiptasia Anemone

[lou dog420]

I had a really bad aptasia infestation. I got 4 nudis from salty underground and 2 months later I was aptasia free. Didn't see any sign of the nudis for the first month, I thought maybe my dottyback ate them, then BOOM. I had hundreds of them, and they wiped the aptasia out in no time!! The only cure for aptasia IMO.

 

[GoVols]

So they will also eat blastos or do you mean the aptasia stung it to death? I have both kinds in the seahorse tank.

I wonder if the berghia will eat a rockflower nem..... have one in the 29g. And as far as that one goes I'm not sure I really care. Is pretty as it is it likes to sting other corals too and move all over the tank.

Yes I've taken shots of the tank both with the sump light that I temporarily put up top so I could see what I was doing because I shut the whole system down when I added them, and I took regular tank lighted pictures as well.

I have to admit that I've been in there with my phone flashlight peeking in the tank but I haven't seen them since they disappeared into the rock LOL

The aiptasia's were spreading inside my blasto and were stinging it to death. The nudi's got inside the blasto and ate the aiptasia but the nudi's are reef safe and will not chew on your corals. The only thing they eat in life is aiptasia. So, all of your corals, should be just fine.

They never tried to take down my BTA's.

I tried to see them at night but I did not have any luck either and it took them a few days to get there bearings before I saw the fist big aiptasia go down.
If you see the aiptasia starting to shrink down into the live rock, then it's a goner.

 

[GoVols]

I had a really bad aptasia infestation. I got 4 nudis from salty underground and 2 months later I was aptasia free. Didn't see any sign of the nudis for the first month, I thought maybe my dottyback ate them, then BOOM. I had hundreds of them, and they wiped the aptasia out in no time!! The only cure for aptasia IMO.

Thanks for your input.
A lot of times they don't start off right out of the gate. They breed and lay egg sacks and then they get to work.
Mine got going but the did stall back two times and when they got going again, it was like they hit a turbo mode.

I agree, the nudi's are the way to go and it's a good thing for others to learn about the nudi's. They will get the job done but it also takes patients.

 

[SPR1968]

Very interesting article Freddie and I will certainly try the nudi's if I get any aiptasia.

We can get them here in the UK and I know about them as I had an aiptasia outbreak a while ago.

 

[prsnlty]

The aiptasia's were spreading inside my blasto and were stinging it to death. The nudi's got inside the blasto and ate the aiptasia but the nudi's are reef safe and will not chew on your corals. The only thing they eat in life is aiptasia. So, all of your corals, should be just fine.

They never tried to take down my BTA's.

I tried to see them at night but I did not have any luck either and it took them a few days to get there bearings before I saw the fist big aiptasia go down.
If you see the aiptasia starting to shrink down into the live rock, then it's a goner.

The 29 is a softy /lps tank and they are ALL being stung (except for the rock nem). The pulsing xenia are nearly wiped out and zoas don't open I couldn't be happier to have these little guys in that sad tank.
The first 3 pics are daylight only.

 

[GoVols]

Very interesting article Freddie and I will certainly try the nudi's if I get any aiptasia.

We can get them here in the UK and I know about them as I had an aiptasia outbreak a while ago.

Shaun,

Thank You!!!

Freddie

 

[prsnlty]

Woohoo! They live and are on tge prowl (although I only saw this one on the glass... Looks like it's carrying eggs...

 

[prsnlty]

Here are a couple closeups. Apparently the Forum software reduces image file size so they may not be perfectly clear to everyone.

 

[BoomCorals]

I'm wondering if wrasses might eat the berghia before they work their magic. Bird wrasse, melanarus, leopard etc.

 

[GoVols]

I'm wondering if wrasses might eat the berghia before they work their magic. Bird wrasse, melanarus, leopard etc.

It's possible.

To play it safe... One may want to move their wrasses another tank until the Berghia's have gotten to job done.
Or research another (or all) methods, for taking on an aiptasia outbreak.

 

[HolisticBear]

To play it safe... One may want to move their wrasses another tank until the Berghia's have gotten to job done.
Or research another (or all) methods, for taking on an aiptasia outbreak.

I don't see it in Salty Underground's FAQ, but I thought I read that most wrasses don't like the taste of them. Of course, the wrasse will need to eat one or two before they figure that out, so they recommended adding a few extra beyond the recommended amount. I read that somewhere, don't know where offhand. When it comes to feeding, there are no rules. It's possible nudis could turn out to be the beef wellington of food for your particular wrasse.

 

[GoVols]

It's possible nudis could turn out to be the beef wellington of food for your particular wrasse.

... ...

 

[prsnlty]

I don't see it in Salty Underground's FAQ, but I thought I read that most wrasses don't like the taste of them. Of course, the wrasse will need to eat one or two before they figure that out, so they recommended adding a few extra beyond the recommended amount. I read that somewhere, don't know where offhand. When it comes to feeding, there are no rules. It's possible nudis could turn out to be the beef wellington of food for your particular wrasse.

Lol.

Ryan told me that if I were to add the nudi's into the 180 to remove the 2 wrasses I have. Yellow Coris and 6 line. But not to worry about the McCoskers fairy wrasse in the seahorse tank. So yes, I think certain wrasses could be an issue for them.

 

[GoVols]

Lol.

Ryan told me that if I were to add the nudi's into the 180 to remove the 2 wrasses I have. Yellow Coris and 6 line. But not to worry about the McCoskers fairy wrasse in the seahorse tank. So yes, I think certain wrasses could be an issue for them.

Jackie,
Those shots you took last night are awesome!!!
I never saw any of my (big ones) out like that, till they were done, and had wiped out the entire aiptasia outbreak.

Freddie

 

[prsnlty]

Jackie,
Those shots you took last night are awesome!!!
I never saw any of my (big ones) out like that, till they were done, and had wiped out the entire aiptasia outbreak.

Freddie

Thank you Freddie.

I took many shots because I had to use the flash and the flash kept getting in the way or it would cause it to go out of focus. Yeah, not too bad for cell phone pics

This was the only one I've seen so far since putting them in. I haven't noticed any disappearances of the aptasia yet though. With as much as there is it's probably way too early.

 

[GoVols]

Thank you Freddie.

I took many shots because I had to use the flash and the flash kept getting in the way or it would cause it to go out of focus. Yeah, not too bad for cell phone pics

This was the only one I've seen so far since putting them in. I haven't noticed any disappearances of the aptasia yet though. With as much as there is it's probably way too early.

Can you keep us updated?

 

[prsnlty]

Can you keep us updated?

I sure can & will

 

[Daniel@R2R]

Lots of great info, Freddie! Thanks for sharing!

 

[GoVols]

Lots of great info, Freddie! Thanks for sharing!

Your Welcome
And my reef is still, aptasia free

 

[prsnlty]

Tip: leave lights off after a few weeks to a month for a few days! I still had several noticeable aptasia before the hurricane. The lights were out for 3.5 days and I look in the tank to find them nearly wiped out! There is a couple on the pulsating xenia and a few on the return and that's it

The 1st 2 pics are what's left. The last 2 pics are the xenia rock and the center bottom area to compare the the pics above them. Every rock looked like these or worse! I am VERY PLEASED!!!!! These little critters are worth every single penny