How Big Can an Aptasia Get?

CJO · 01/11/2010, 03:07 PM

I've had some small Aptasias in my aquarium that I kill off as soon as I can find. However, I recently bought a clump of chaeto from my LFS to start a refugerium and it came with an anenome on it that looks a lot like an Aptasia except that it is about 1.5" tall and 1.5" in diameter. Is this something I should worry about?

Thanks,
CJ

smokieroom · 01/11/2010, 03:33 PM

I have seen some get much larger than that like 3 or so inches. I would kill it off they can spread from your sump to your display. Or better yet if its just attached to the cheato I would just trim that piece out.

francis1123 · 01/11/2010, 03:35 PM

my largest one probably stretches from base to tips 6" with about a 4" diameter. they can get big when you feed them mysis.

CJO · 01/11/2010, 03:46 PM

Wow, thanks. It's getting Aptasia-X tonight for dinner!

CJ

mudskipper1 · 01/11/2010, 05:57 PM

Somebody should start a thread as a competition to see who has the biggest one, i no longer have my tank, but i think it'd be entertaining...

CJO · 01/11/2010, 10:15 PM

Need to have pics, otherwise it's a fish story!

CJ

grimlykindo · 01/11/2010, 10:17 PM

Definitely Aptasia

I've seen them get about 4-5 inches tall

Tylt33 · 01/11/2010, 11:25 PM

I have some in my overflow... they shoot out babies and then me/my CBB/peppermint shrimp kill them. Huge things though.

jsharp1 · 01/12/2010, 12:07 AM

ok, newbie here

What is aptasia and what exactly does it do? Is it something that can kill your tank or what?

Arkayology · 01/12/2010, 01:39 AM

Aiptasia has stinging cells that will sting corals that get too close. It is generally considered a nuisance anemone because it spreads fast and will bother your corals.

Tigre9 · 01/12/2010, 02:03 AM

They can also sting and consume fish in the aquarium. I have lost 2 green chromis previously and they are very adapt at killing localized coral. Be aware they reproduce from any little piece and almost overnight. I have found that Kalk mix and a suringe work well as long as you do not try and kill all of them at one time.

Getting ready to buy a peppermint shrimp that will eat them, but I want to make sure the peppermint will not eat my tube anemone.

ricordeanut · 01/12/2010, 02:20 AM

Dont feed them KIll Kill Kill Kill

Lemeshianos · 01/12/2010, 04:28 AM

If you have aptaisia in the sump, can it shoot babies that will go up to main tank?

awilson500 · 01/12/2010, 05:05 AM

Why take the chance? I have seen display tanks with thousands of dollars of coral that get wrecked because they thought a aptasia looked cool. They can multiple very fast. One might look cool but hundreds is just ugly. Just my 2cents.

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Lemeshianos · 01/12/2010, 06:11 AM

I'm just thinking if there is a way to use aptasia as a nitrates consumer.

francis1123 · 01/12/2010, 10:56 AM

i feed them, because i use that QT tank to get CBB's eating.

lordofthereef · 01/12/2010, 11:02 AM

At the LFS (yes I know... not the best LFS) I have seen them probably 5 or so inches wide. They have a tank that used to house a ray that they let go to sh** and it is just filled with aiptasia now. I am sure it took a good nutrient load to get it that big though.

01/11/2010, 03:07 PM	#1
CJO Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 578	How Big Can an Aptasia Get? I've had some small Aptasias in my aquarium that I kill off as soon as I can find. However, I recently bought a clump of chaeto from my LFS to start a refugerium and it came with an anenome on it that looks a lot like an Aptasia except that it is about 1.5" tall and 1.5" in diameter. Is this something I should worry about? Thanks, CJ

01/11/2010, 03:33 PM	#2
smokieroom Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: TN Posts: 110	I have seen some get much larger than that like 3 or so inches. I would kill it off they can spread from your sump to your display. Or better yet if its just attached to the cheato I would just trim that piece out. __________________ current tanks: 90 gal w/30 gal sump - 6 bulb t5 retro w/1 icecap 660 ballast and 1 icecap 430 ballast - reefkeeper elite w/2 pc4's, mlc, net, sl1, and sl2 - marine solutions msx200 skimmer - vortech mp40w es 29 gal biocube - 20" current sunpod 150W HQI - reefkeeper lite w/2 pc4's, sl2, and net - sapphire aquatics skimmer 12 gal nano cube - nanotuners 3.24 lighting upgrade - sapphire aquatics skimmer Current Tank Info: 90 gal, 29 gal biocube, and 12 gal nano cube

01/11/2010, 05:57 PM	#5
mudskipper1 Trust Me I'm an Engineer Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan Posts: 1,085	Somebody should start a thread as a competition to see who has the biggest one, i no longer have my tank, but i think it'd be entertaining... __________________ -Eric kazyakphoto.zenfolio.com Current Tank Info: 11 gallon DIY acrylic cube and 20L displays plumbed to a single sump, Kessil, Onyx, MP10, RKL

01/12/2010, 01:39 AM	#10
Arkayology Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,597	Aiptasia has stinging cells that will sting corals that get too close. It is generally considered a nuisance anemone because it spreads fast and will bother your corals. __________________ -Matt in between tanks

01/12/2010, 02:03 AM	#11
Tigre9 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Tennesse Posts: 61	They can also sting and consume fish in the aquarium. I have lost 2 green chromis previously and they are very adapt at killing localized coral. Be aware they reproduce from any little piece and almost overnight. I have found that Kalk mix and a suringe work well as long as you do not try and kill all of them at one time. Getting ready to buy a peppermint shrimp that will eat them, but I want to make sure the peppermint will not eat my tube anemone. __________________ Tim W Current Tank Info: Oak Stand Build (55gal Reef Disp Tank) 55gal BTA Prop Tank (1RBTA, 2GBTA, 1Sailfin, 1Six Line Wrasse, 1Red Mush, 1Frag Grey Star Polyp) 30gal Prop Tank for BTA (currently has 1Clown, 4BlueGreen Chromis, 3Peppermint Shrimp)

01/11/2010, 03:35 PM	#3
francis1123 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: san diego, ca Posts: 164	my largest one probably stretches from base to tips 6" with about a 4" diameter. they can get big when you feed them mysis.

01/11/2010, 03:46 PM	#4
CJO Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 578	Wow, thanks. It's getting Aptasia-X tonight for dinner! CJ

01/11/2010, 10:15 PM	#6
CJO Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 578	Need to have pics, otherwise it's a fish story! CJ

01/11/2010, 10:17 PM	#7
grimlykindo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 78	Definitely Aptasia I've seen them get about 4-5 inches tall

01/11/2010, 11:25 PM	#8
Tylt33 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Chico, California Posts: 1,755	I have some in my overflow... they shoot out babies and then me/my CBB/peppermint shrimp kill them. Huge things though.

01/12/2010, 12:07 AM	#9
jsharp1 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 162	ok, newbie here What is aptasia and what exactly does it do? Is it something that can kill your tank or what?

01/12/2010, 02:20 AM	#12
ricordeanut Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 72	Dont feed them KIll Kill Kill Kill __________________ L.H.

01/12/2010, 04:28 AM	#13
Lemeshianos Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Limassol, Cyprus Posts: 468	If you have aptaisia in the sump, can it shoot babies that will go up to main tank?

01/12/2010, 05:05 AM	#14
awilson500 MarkSativa Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: 41° 17' 11.70" N 85° 51'07.12" W Posts: 362	Re: How Big Can an Aptasia Get? Why take the chance? I have seen display tanks with thousands of dollars of coral that get wrecked because they thought a aptasia looked cool. They can multiple very fast. One might look cool but hundreds is just ugly. Just my 2cents. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>¸. ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon AGA Pre-Drilled, 30 gallon diy sump, TEK T-5 Lighting, 79.5 degress, 1.025salinty, 8.2 to 8.53pH

01/12/2010, 06:11 AM	#15
Lemeshianos Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Limassol, Cyprus Posts: 468	I'm just thinking if there is a way to use aptasia as a nitrates consumer.

01/12/2010, 10:56 AM	#16
francis1123 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: san diego, ca Posts: 164	i feed them, because i use that QT tank to get CBB's eating.

01/12/2010, 11:02 AM	#17
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	At the LFS (yes I know... not the best LFS) I have seen them probably 5 or so inches wide. They have a tank that used to house a ray that they let go to sh** and it is just filled with aiptasia now. I am sure it took a good nutrient load to get it that big though. __________________ "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" ~ Josh Billings Visit My Home page for current build thread (click my user name and select "Visit LordoftheReef's Homepage" in the drop down menu!