Fire and peppermint shrimps?

[PicassoClown04]

Hey y’all, so I’ve finally found aiptasia in my tank :(. I currently have a fire/blood shrimp and I’d like to get a peppermint to help me with the aiptasia before it gets out of hand. Are they compatible? It’s a 20 gallon peninsula tank with a lot of caves.

 

[andrewey]

Most likely, there shouldn't be any issues. Make sure you get the true peppermint shrimp and not one of the lookalikes -Best of luck with your aiptasia! :)

 

[ReeferWarrant]

How bad is the infestation? I got Aiptasia X and havent seen anything since I used it 3 weeks ago. I think I lucked out because the nem was footed under the sand on a rock so when it receded it buried itself in a tomb. I feel like a 20 gallon would be easier to manual remove than add a shrimp.

 

[PicassoClown04]

I’ve tried manual removal, ended up with the four baby ones :(. I might want a shrimp anyway, just for helping me clean up after I over feed and since I don’t QT my coral I’m sure I’ll get more aiptasia in the future

 

[andrewey]

Unfortunately, as you found, manual removal is likely to make the problem worse in some cases or require repeated treatments in others. Best of luck with the peppermint shrimp- as you've seen they can multiply quickly, so if it appears the shrimp isn't helping, don't wait too long before adding another technique in tandem or trying a different approach.

 

[ReeferWarrant]

Theres a species of nudibranch that eat them too, I've never seen it but I have read of people using them as well. I feel like thats a guaranteed way but once they are removed it has no food....

 

[andrewey]

Theres a species of nudibranch that eat them too, I've never seen it but I have read of people using them as well. I feel like thats a guaranteed way but once they are removed it has no food....

I assume you're referring to berghia nudibranch?

 

[ReeferWarrant]

Those are the ones, no experience just seen it tossed around as a possibility

 

[PicassoClown04]

Yeah, I looked into those, the number of aiptasia I have wouldn’t sustain it for even one day and they’re pretty pricey so I can’t really see that as an option. Thanks though!

 

[andrewey]

No solution is perfect, but they probably provide the greatest chance of success for a reefer looking for aiptasia eradication. The downside is exactly what you mentioned and their price tag.