longnose and copperband - HUGE aipstasia issue

[gusmanda]

I have a HUGE problem with aipstasia. I joe-juice them, but there are many in unreacheable places. I had a peppermint shrimp, but it refused to eat anything except feather dusters. I bought a copperband, but it also refused to eat aipstasia. I don't know what it's eating, but I've had it for 3 months now and it still looks very healthy, in spite of not apearing to be eating anything. I thought about getting a long-nose butterfly fish to add to the tank. Anyone have experience mixing the two and getting long-noses to eat aipstasia?

[Don-Coraleone]

falcula butterflies love aptasia.

[WrinkleFreeZone]

Have you considered Berghia nudibranchs for the aiptasia problem? They're pretty effective.
-B

[tmz]

My Forcipiger longerostris(big long nosed butterfly) does not touch them or corals. Chaetodon lunula(raccons) will gorge on them and,unfortunately, corals.

[gusmanda]

yeah, I've heard of raccons devouring aipstasia, but I do have corals, so can't put it in at the moment. Heard of a nidibrach that will eat aipstasia, but haven't even been able to see one in picture, much less at a LFS. Any pictures? So the long nose might turn out to also not-touch anything then?

[HiJacK]

Originally posted by gusmanda
yeah, I've heard of raccons devouring aipstasia, but I do have corals, so can't put it in at the moment. Heard of a nidibrach that will eat aipstasia, but haven't even been able to see one in picture, much less at a LFS. Any pictures? So the long nose might turn out to also not-touch anything then?

Here you go...it's the first option

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1503508

[liz3]

i don't know about the others but I have had the copperband eradicte aptasia....unfortunately it did not eat anything else after that. I think it's hit or miss. Did the joes juice also, however, u can't get the small ones which eventually get big and spread.

good luck

[tegee]

I have stated here many times but have received zero feedback and/or response regarding fish that eat Aiptasia. My LFS, which are extremely knowledgeable, turned me on to a File Fish that eats aiptasia. I do not have an official name for it, but they simply called it a Aiptasia Eating File Fish. I had a terrible aiptasia problem and this fish absolutely destroyed all of the aiptasia in a couple of weeks.

I was very skepital a first because of its claims and the chance it would eat my sps corals, etc. But this fish did everything and more. Now it happens to be one of my more peacful fish and I enjoy having him around and have not taken him out of the tank. I will try to call my LFS and get the official name of the File Fish. They did say that not many people know about them and not very common fish to carry in a LFS.

Hope this helps.

[WrinkleFreeZone]

If you're interested in the Berghia, check out the following website for more information: www.berghia.net
-B

[sps1-2-b]

If you don't have a lot of sps then a kleins butterfly fish would be a candidate. I had one and it took care of my aiptaisa in one day. However, it nipped on all of my sps but I didn't see it nipping on lps.

[gusmanda]

Those Berghia seem like the best option, need to talk to the LFS people and see if they can order some for me

[gusmanda]

don't six line wrasses eat berghias?

[dflowers]

+1 on the Kliens butterfly, he worked great for me!

[tmz]

Several people I've talked to were disappointed with the cost and production of berghia. I would do a search and research them some before investing in that option.I have not read any anecdotal accounts of success.

I'm looking forward to getting the name of that file fish.

[tmz]

I should clarify a point on the longnosed butterfly. The specimen I have is the big long nosed butterfly(Forcipiger longirostris) It has a smaller mouth and longer snout than the (Forcipiger flavissimus), long nosed butterfly. I do not personally know if the flavissimus will eat aiptasia or not but have not seen any reports to indicate it does. It is reported to feed on coral sometimes.