Nudibranch for Aiptasia

[JuanGutz]

I have a 50 gallon tank that is riddled with Aiptasia, I used great rock and a lot of my coral has grown into the rock and I would like to use it in my upgrade I’m working on. In the tank I have one Moyeri wrasse and a maroon clown. My question is will My moyeri kill the nudibranch trying to eat it them or should I be safe to use them? I want to eradicate the Aiptasia and it seems Nudibranch will be the best way to do so. Any opinions or suggestions?

Thanks In Advance ,
Juan

 

[foxt]

I can't help you with the question about the Moyeri, but I can tell you that you are on the right track with the berghia nudibranchs. It could take them as much as 4-6 weeks to get to all of the aiptasia, but they will indeed get it, provided that the wrasse doesn't pick them off. Any chance you can move the wrasse out, if it is likely to eat the nudis?

You might also ask Jeff over at Reeftown (one of the R2R sponsors that sell berghia).

 

[Michael Naegeli]

I added Berghia last month. Doing great job... ive read that some wrasse will pick one off but will get a gnarly taste in his mouth from the Aptasia consumed by the Nudi. Says they may eat one or two before realizing it’s not a tasty treat after all. You should add a few xtra then needed as sacrificial losses

 

[JuanGutz]

I can't help you with the question about the Moyeri, but I can tell you that you are on the right track with the berghia nudibranchs. It could take them as much as 4-6 weeks to get to all of the aiptasia, but they will indeed get it, provided that the wrasse doesn't pick them off. Any chance you can move the wrasse out, if it is likely to eat the nudis?

You might also ask Jeff over at Reeftown (one of the R2R sponsors that sell berghia).

I didn’t notice they were sponsors so thank you I will probably just call and see what they have to say. I have lots of very large ones so I’d be happy with that time frame.

 

[jd371]

Among the fish I have there is a Melanurus, Flasher Wrasse, Copperband, and a Falco Hawkfish that I thought would be prime suspects in eating the Nudis if I bought them. Took the chance and added a total of 16 to the tank in April, by July all the Aptasia in my tank were gone. The Berghia Nudibranch are nocturnal so unless one of your fish is a nocturnal hunter I wouldn't worry. My Melanurus is a savage and I really thought out of all of them he would definitely make a snack out of them, but he's long buried in the sand when they come out and the last one out in the morning so no chance of them meeting. The other fish are in sleep mode during the time the Berghia are doing their thing. Peppermint shrimp are one of their natural predators so if you have any in the tank get them out.

 

[slowngreen]

Considering one myself but am wondering if peppermints will bother them?

 

[foxt]

Considering one myself but am wondering if peppermints will bother them?

Peppermints will definitely hunt them down.

 

[JuanGutz]

Among the fish I have there is a Melanurus, Flasher Wrasse, Copperband, and a Falco Hawkfish that I thought would be prime suspects in eating the Nudis if I bought them. Took the chance and added a total of 16 to the tank in April, by July all the Aptasia in my tank were gone. The Berghia Nudibranch are nocturnal so unless one of your fish is a nocturnal hunter I wouldn't worry. My Melanurus is a savage and I really thought out of all of them he would definitely make a snack out of them, but he's long buried in the sand when they come out and the last one out in the morning so no chance of them meeting. The other fish are in sleep mode during the time the Berghia are doing their thing. Peppermint shrimp are one of their natural predators so if you have any in the tank get them out.

Glad to hear you were successful with them. I went ahead and ordered 7 for my 50g, hoping that’s enough for them to get the job done how ever long it takes. They won’t go hungry for awhile though that’s for sure.