10g problemo

[j-man the skater-man]

I have a 10g with 3 confirmed aiptasia anemones, possibly more. I have read of several ways to deal with them but i would like some advise. A peppermint shrimp is often recommended but with such a small tank im sceptical and i dont know if my not so LFS would take the shrimp back if it did fix my problem. My favorite "fix" is injecting with lemon juice. That way it dies but im not taking another creature from the wild but ive read that you need a rather large anemone for this to work and thankfully mine arent very large yet. If anyone has any ideas that would be invert safe and better than me trying to stab rather small anemones i would appreciate it.

[CollegeReefer]

Seems like you know what to do. Lemon juice works good but so does the peperment shrimp. I have used both methods.

[j-man the skater-man]

I believe i will research the peppermint since the polyps are still small and hard to stab at. I have button polyps, and from the "Marine Invertabrates" book i have it says the peppermint that may actually eat aiptasia will probibly also snack on the buttons. Was that the case for you?

[Damon]

Peppermints are hit and miss for a cpl of reasons.
1. There are up to 4 species of shrimp labeled as "peppermint" shrimp. Only 1 readily eats aptasia
2. Even if you get the right species, they are still not guaranteed to work.

http://www.reefcorner.com/SpecimenSh...int_shrimp.htm
http://www.reefs.org/library/article..._redfield.html
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/in...epshrpfaqs.htm

[j-man the skater-man]

Yes, I know. But I have read several places that even the aiptasia eating "peppermint" will possibly munch other polyps as well (which makes perfect sense). Are there any risks of causing the anemone to spread if I stab it but am unsuccessfull at injecting it? Is there a certain point at which the anemones reproduce or would waiting until they are larger be ill advised?

[Fishfirst]

kalk paste

[j-man the skater-man]

Yea, Ive already tried the lemon juice which seemed to work pretty well after I actually stabbed stem good but once I actually stabbed it good i dont think I injected enough juice. So if its still kickin I will try to murder it again.

[leveldrummer]

if they are isolated, (not in the middle of a large colony of coral) get some of the 2 part epoxy used for mounting frags, mix up a marble sized ball, pinch off some little chunks large enough to cover the area the anenome is in, touch it so it with draws and bury it under the epoxy, make sure you press it in there nice and deep and that there are no other exits that it can find a way out. you'll never see it again.

[CollegeReefer]

Originally Posted by leveldrummer

if they are isolated, (not in the middle of a large colony of coral) get some of the 2 part epoxy used for mounting frags, mix up a marble sized ball, pinch off some little chunks large enough to cover the area the anenome is in, touch it so it with draws and bury it under the epoxy, make sure you press it in there nice and deep and that there are no other exits that it can find a way out. you'll never see it again.

LOL never heard of this method before!

As for peperment picking at bp, i never had issues.

[j-man the skater-man]

sweet idea! what type of epoxy? I ask just in case my LFS doesnt have any. Can you epoxy that will work in aquariums from places like Home Depot?

[Monkfish]

Home Depot carries Aquamend which looks to be safe in aquarium

I noticed when surfing on this link http://www.reefboard.com/showthread.php?t=18635

[Ricker]

I used a peppermint shrimp in a 3 he is healthy and kicking.

[wac121]

I have a similar aptasia problem, I bought a peppermint shrimp from my local store and am still waiting for it to decide to feast on them, from what I have been told the peppermint shrimp is among the safest methods, I have never heard about them going after the polyps though, so far mine is leaving them alone, then again he isn't eating a aptassia yet either, but I will give him a little more time.

[j-man the skater-man]

wac121 i believe I am going to be doing the same thing you are. Ive tryed the lemon juice injection a few times and although it killed the biggest anemone somehow about 5 new tiny ones appeared in its place. I dont know if I didnt inject it properly or what but im gonna give the natural way a try before I inject the 2 other big ones and have them throw off 5 babies each. I will try to post my results once I can find/get a "true" peppermint.

FishFirst ive seen injecting and/or coating aiptasia in "kalk paste" recomended...can you elaborate on your method?

[j-man the skater-man]

Okay so i have my peppermint and as i expected i cant tell he has made an impact on the anemones and ive havent fed him which means that with time he should munch on them. But i dont want him to starve either...my gody finds all the food he needs in he tank on his own...the shrimp should be able to do that same?
Mean while I still want the lil guy to be healthy, is iodide a required additive to keep shrimp? I ask with the belief that since my pods molt all the time and the hermits do as well that my 3 gallon water change weekly (at least 30% of total volume) is providing the needed iodine. But I want to make sure.