How can I get my aptasia to come out?

[WalkerLoves_TheOcean]

Hello everyone.

One of my rocks in my fish tank is infested with aptasia, so I am trying to remove it. I have a separate bowl of saltwater, with the rock inside. The aptasia won't come out, and I am sure any time I try to remove one, all of them will retract, and hide for a while. Got any ideas on how can get them to come out?

 

[KrisReef]

I never had any luck with trying to get them to come out and play. I have injected them with muriatic acid and other "killer" solutions and they always come back. I am going to buy a Kleine butterfly later today because the tank that had a Kleine (who exited the world via powerhead) has had a resurgence of these infidels after the fish departed.

I have tried drying out the rocks outside, freshwater dips, and I have strong evidence that Aiptasia are immortals, but they can be controlled with predators.

I might suggest that you try microwaving the rock, something I have not done because it might cause the rock to fall apart from steam pressure?

 

[Crabby48]

Just like herpes. Once you got them they are always there. Sometimes you see them and other times you don’t

 

[WalkerLoves_TheOcean]

I never had any luck with trying to get them to come out and play. I have injected them with muriatic acid and other "killer" solutions and they always come back. I am going to buy a Kleine butterfly later today because the tank that had a Kleine (who exited the world via powerhead) has had a resurgence of these infidels after the fish departed.

I have tried drying out the rocks outside, freshwater dips, and I have strong evidence that Aiptasia are immortals, but they can be controlled with predators.

I might suggest that you try microwaving the rock, something I have not done because it might cause the rock to fall apart from steam pressure?

Ugh, why do they have to be so difficult. I think I am going to try to inject salty lemon juice into them.

 

[WalkerLoves_TheOcean]

Scratch that, I don't haveemon juice. Do you think a extremely salty bath will kill them?

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Aiptasia doesn't come out and play as @KrisReef said. I'm a firm believer in biological eradication as chemical eradication tends to spread spores and make it worse IMHO.

 

[The_Paradox]

Scratch that, I don't haveemon juice. Do you think an extremely salty bath will kill them?

Just skim over them with superglue.

 

[ScottJ]

I never had any luck with trying to get them to come out and play. I have injected them with muriatic acid and other "killer" solutions and they always come back. I am going to buy a Kleine butterfly later today because the tank that had a Kleine (who exited the world via powerhead) has had a resurgence of these infidels after the fish departed.

I have tried drying out the rocks outside, freshwater dips, and I have strong evidence that Aiptasia are immortals, but they can be controlled with predators.

I might suggest that you try microwaving the rock, something I have not done because it might cause the rock to fall apart from steam pressure?

I don't think that microwaving a rock would be a good idea. Microwaving is basically the same thing as boiling it.

 

[crazyfishmom]

I’ve had great results with peppermint shrimp and covering them with superglue.

 

[WalkerLoves_TheOcean]

I’ve had great results with peppermint shrimp and covering them with superglue.

I have not been able to manually remove them. I am now leaning towards getting a pep, but my only worry is that they will eat my lps.

 

[crazyfishmom]

I have not been able to manually remove them. I am now leaning towards getting a pep, but my only worry is that they will eat my lps.

I have lots of LPS and haven’t had any issues with them at all. I have a couple of them that will actually eat off the feeding tongs when I feed the tank.

 

[WalkerLoves_TheOcean]

I have lots of LPS and haven’t had any issues with them at all. I have a couple of them that will actually eat off the feeding tongs when I feed the tank.

Nice tank, can I also have a cleaner shrimp with it too? It's only a 15g tank, so its pretty small. Would U also just feed it with mysis shrimp?

 

[crazyfishmom]

Nice tank, can I also have a cleaner shrimp with it too? It's only a 15g tank, so its pretty small. Would U also just feed it with mysis shrimp?

I have a fire shrimp with mine and it’s probably 5 times the size of the peppermints and haven’t had issues. Cleaner shrimp and peppermints are both pretty tame so I don’t think it would be a problem. I feed mine frozen mysis and brine. They love both.

 

[WalkerLoves_TheOcean]

I have a fire shrimp with mine and it’s probably 5 times the size of the peppermints and haven’t had issues. Cleaner shrimp and peppermints are both pretty tame so I don’t think it would be a problem. I feed mine frozen mysis and brine. They love both.

Ok, thanks for the help. I will look into it because I am never going to be able to get rid of it. It would be cool to have 2 shrimp in my tank.

 

[crazyfishmom]

Ok, thanks for the help. I will look into it because I am never going to be able to get rid of it. It would be cool to have 2 shrimp in my tank.

Good luck! Aiptasia really suck.

 

[WalkerLoves_TheOcean]

Good luck! Aiptasia really suck.

They do. Thanks!

 

[The_Paradox]

I have lots of LPS and haven’t had any issues with them at all. I have a couple of them that will actually eat off the feeding tongs when I feed the tank.

How old are shrimp? Every Peppermint I have ever had turned into satan around a year old.

 

[WalkerLoves_TheOcean]

I have a fire shrimp with mine and it’s probably 5 times the size of the peppermints and haven’t had issues. Cleaner shrimp and peppermints are both pretty tame so I don’t think it would be a problem. I feed mine frozen mysis and brine. They love both.

I have been reading that people have had bad experiences with mixing the 2, and some have had good. How big is your tank, and do you think I should worry about it?

Do you thinks it's possible that the person picked up a camel shrimp, and that's why They had problems?

 

[officialreefbros]

I've had good luck with peppermint shrimp. I kept having an issue with my aptasia and I would glue it and such but it kept coming back. I added in two peppermint shrimp and then never saw them again. A few months later I noticed my aptasia was gone and found one of the shrimp still!

 

[crazyfishmom]

How old are shrimp? Every Peppermint I have ever had turned into satan around a year old.

Mine are young. Probably 6-7 months old. Thanks for the tip. I’ll keep an eye out as they get older.