aiptasia, animal cure?

[DragonsRus]

Well, I got a whole bunch of live rock for my new 26gallon aquarium from an established tank that was being taken down. Unfortunately I have discovered Aiptasia! ARGH! My tank is obviously too small to house a copperband or a raccoon, and I think I can get the bigger ones with kalkwasser (whatever that powdery stuff is called) but are there any animals that I could put in my tank to take care of the small ones? My tank is a FOWLR. The sand and rock have been established for about 8 years in the previous tank.

Thanks for you opinions!

-Kristin

 

[Charlie]

I was killing small aiptasia left & right, using concentrated lemon/lime juice. However, tiny new aiptasia kept appearing. That is, however, until I bought a Peppermint Shrimp. I haven't seen a single aiptasia in a month.

One caution on buying a Peppermint Shrimp, I have read that some places sell "Camel Shrimp" as Peppermints because they look similar. Camel Shrimp do not eat aiptasia. Make sure you are getting a real Peppermint Shrimp.

By the way, the Peppermint is eating regular fish food, flakes, pellets, & brine shrimp every day. They don't need aiptasia, they just like them.

 

[melosu58]

I`ve heard also that peppermint shrimp will take care of the small ones.

 

[Kurt_Nelson]

One caution on buying a Peppermint Shrimp, I have read that some places sell "Camel Shrimp" as Peppermints because they look similar. Camel Shrimp do not eat aiptasia. Make sure you are getting a real Peppermint Shrimp.

Camels are easy to spot - they are more brightly colored (solid red with white stripes) and have a large snout/nose thingy that points up. (I'm sure there's a technical term for the snout/nose thingy.) True peppermints are almost transluscent white, with red strips and have no noticeable "snout/nose".

I just got a peppermint last week. It seems to do what most others have commented in that it stays cooped up in a cave during the day and comes out after the lights go out. Still waiting for it to get settled in before I start calling it lazy for not going after the two little aptasias that are sprouting.

 

[roka64]

I have obsereved shrimp can become lazy when over fed. My fire and cleaner NEVER cleaned anything...well, except the food that hit the substrate.