Pepperming shrimp vs. Aiptasia followup

tzylak · 10/09/2014, 07:59 AM

Initially I thought that over the last 12 weeks I somehow introduced aiptasia to my (new to me) tank. Now I came to the conclusion that they came with the tank . . .
About two weeks ago, at the apex of flourishing I counted some 30 aiptasia plants at various stages of growth. Almost two weeks ago, I also purchased two peppermint shrimp. I saw them for about 30 seconds after introduction into the tank. Then, they disappeared into the rock pile. I was taking a chance but was hopeful.
Well, yesterday I counted, and there is only 3 plants left. -These are the biggest ones, the originals. Who knows, maybe within a week they will be gone too, yet I am satisfied to say that the problem is under control and that I lucked out on the peppermints that did what they were supposed to do.
I just wanted to share my satisfaction with the group. Thanks for the advise!! Tom

Fish: 2 Ocellaris Clownfish, 1 Green Mandarin, 1 Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, 1 Fire Shrimp, 1 Corral Banded Shrimp, 1 Arrow Crab, 2 Peppermint Shrimp plus bunch of Bristle Worms and CUC.
Reef: 50 lb. Sand, 70 lb. Rock, Frog Spawn, Button Polyps, Mushrooms, Kenya Trees, Feather Star, and recently, several aiptasias. . . :-(.
Tank: 50g hex, overflow, 20um filter, 23 gal sump, 2 pumps, 3 in-tank circulators, 5 UH fluorescent, chiller 650, heater 150W, skimmer 65, I got it on 7/18/2014 but it is established for over 15 years!!
BTW, Getting the Green Mandarin and Feather Star was an ignorant rookie mistake on my part. . . . But they are still surviving.

hogfanreefer · 10/09/2014, 08:20 AM

Glad to hear your infestation is getting better. Sometimes peppermints won't eat the larger aiptasia. It might be wise while the numbers are so low to treat the remainder with Aiptasia X or one of the other known remedies. If those three aren't removed some how there will be more. Stay vigilant and you may have this whipped. Good luck!

I'm sure you already know this but aiptasia aren't plants, they are animals.

Scott07 · 10/09/2014, 01:36 PM

Just food for thought.... I'm not saying this is a good idea or a bad idea... but I actually let a few aiptasia grow in my fuge (only a HOB) so that they'll keep seeding my tank and providing something for my peppermint shrimp to go after. I've found that if he doesn't have anything better to do, he'll go after some of my LPS... sometimes just to steal food they've collected... sometimes to try and rip their polyps appart (if I don't catch him in the act and stop him first!)

10/09/2014, 07:59 AM	#1
tzylak Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Oceanside, CA Posts: 457	Pepperming shrimp vs. Aiptasia followup Initially I thought that over the last 12 weeks I somehow introduced aiptasia to my (new to me) tank. Now I came to the conclusion that they came with the tank . . . About two weeks ago, at the apex of flourishing I counted some 30 aiptasia plants at various stages of growth. Almost two weeks ago, I also purchased two peppermint shrimp. I saw them for about 30 seconds after introduction into the tank. Then, they disappeared into the rock pile. I was taking a chance but was hopeful. Well, yesterday I counted, and there is only 3 plants left. -These are the biggest ones, the originals. Who knows, maybe within a week they will be gone too, yet I am satisfied to say that the problem is under control and that I lucked out on the peppermints that did what they were supposed to do. I just wanted to share my satisfaction with the group. Thanks for the advise!! Tom Fish: 2 Ocellaris Clownfish, 1 Green Mandarin, 1 Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, 1 Fire Shrimp, 1 Corral Banded Shrimp, 1 Arrow Crab, 2 Peppermint Shrimp plus bunch of Bristle Worms and CUC. Reef: 50 lb. Sand, 70 lb. Rock, Frog Spawn, Button Polyps, Mushrooms, Kenya Trees, Feather Star, and recently, several aiptasias. . . :-(. Tank: 50g hex, overflow, 20um filter, 23 gal sump, 2 pumps, 3 in-tank circulators, 5 UH fluorescent, chiller 650, heater 150W, skimmer 65, I got it on 7/18/2014 but it is established for over 15 years!! BTW, Getting the Green Mandarin and Feather Star was an ignorant rookie mistake on my part. . . . But they are still surviving.

10/09/2014, 08:20 AM	#2
hogfanreefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 2,117	Glad to hear your infestation is getting better. Sometimes peppermints won't eat the larger aiptasia. It might be wise while the numbers are so low to treat the remainder with Aiptasia X or one of the other known remedies. If those three aren't removed some how there will be more. Stay vigilant and you may have this whipped. Good luck! I'm sure you already know this but aiptasia aren't plants, they are animals. __________________ DSA 155,Custom Trigger 42" sump/refugium, MP40 X2, MP 10 X 2, AI Hydra 52 X3, Apex controller, Tunze ATO Current Tank Info: DSA 155 gallon, mixed reef, SPS and wrasse dominant

10/09/2014, 01:36 PM	#3
Scott07 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 384	Just food for thought.... I'm not saying this is a good idea or a bad idea... but I actually let a few aiptasia grow in my fuge (only a HOB) so that they'll keep seeding my tank and providing something for my peppermint shrimp to go after. I've found that if he doesn't have anything better to do, he'll go after some of my LPS... sometimes just to steal food they've collected... sometimes to try and rip their polyps appart (if I don't catch him in the act and stop him first!) __________________ 65 gallon mixed reef Good maintainence and husbandry is a cumulative effect, not a single event.