clams vs aiptasia

anathema · 04/21/2002, 04:24 PM

What do you use to clean aiptasia off of your clams?

I came home yesterday and my healthy crocea was gaping and would not extend it's mantle over the edge of it's shell. After freaking out and checking PH and several other params because I just started to drip kalk for the first time the night before, I noticed an aiptasia on the back side of the clam.

I scraped it off as best I could, but we all know he will come back.

I imagine a shot of vinegar or kalk while a clam was filter feeding would be very bad, what are my options? I didn't find much in a search about removing aiptasia from clams.

On a better note the clam looks almost normal again today after spending the rest of the day yesterday half closed. Whew!

It's still gaping a bit, but looks like it will recover just fine.

toptank · 04/21/2002, 05:52 PM

I use a soft tooth brush to clean my clam shells. Works well for me

Barry

anathema · 04/21/2002, 05:59 PM

Thats a great idea. I'll give it a try.

jim norris · 04/21/2002, 08:07 PM

I use a razor blade first to scrape it off. Then as Barry use a soft tooth brush.
Jim

jimmyj7090 · 04/26/2002, 11:26 PM

if you can, do it in a bucket or a seperate tank to maximize the change?? of getting rid if our annoying friend

teknopanda · 04/29/2002, 06:05 AM

won't arrow crabs eat the aiptasia off the clam? or can that relationship not exist?

jim norris · 04/29/2002, 07:29 AM

I would be afraid the arrow crab would eat the clam first!
Jim

kedd · 04/29/2002, 06:25 PM

Peppermint shrimp and the right copper band solved the problem for me.
Not one in the tank for couple of years now. (knock on wood)

I have heard of having a problem with a copper band and clams,but I have never seen any of mine even look twice at a clam.
They have been in the tank for about 3 years now.

It would be a good question to poll though,I would like to know if I'm just lucky or if it is rare for a copper band to hurt a clam.

The aiptasia that are too large for either of those,I inject with alkalinity.
This kills them within a hour or so,and doesn't break them apart to spread to other parts of your tank, like scraping or brushing seems to.

Kedd

04/21/2002, 04:24 PM	#1
anathema Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: San Francisco Posts: 1,543	clams vs aiptasia What do you use to clean aiptasia off of your clams? I came home yesterday and my healthy crocea was gaping and would not extend it's mantle over the edge of it's shell. After freaking out and checking PH and several other params because I just started to drip kalk for the first time the night before, I noticed an aiptasia on the back side of the clam. I scraped it off as best I could, but we all know he will come back. I imagine a shot of vinegar or kalk while a clam was filter feeding would be very bad, what are my options? I didn't find much in a search about removing aiptasia from clams. On a better note the clam looks almost normal again today after spending the rest of the day yesterday half closed. Whew! It's still gaping a bit, but looks like it will recover just fine. __________________ Sometimes it takes me the entire weekend to walk past my tank. I don't support RC anymore, they lost my respect. For further info on any of my posts find me on the BAR forum. Current Tank Info: Tank thread on Bay Area Reefers.

04/21/2002, 05:59 PM	#3
anathema Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: San Francisco Posts: 1,543	Thanks Thats a great idea. I'll give it a try. __________________ Sometimes it takes me the entire weekend to walk past my tank. I don't support RC anymore, they lost my respect. For further info on any of my posts find me on the BAR forum. Current Tank Info: Tank thread on Bay Area Reefers.

04/21/2002, 05:52 PM	#2
toptank Moved On Join Date: May 2000 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,327	I use a soft tooth brush to clean my clam shells. Works well for me Barry

04/21/2002, 08:07 PM	#4
jim norris Moved On Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 760	I use a razor blade first to scrape it off. Then as Barry use a soft tooth brush. Jim

04/26/2002, 11:26 PM	#5
jimmyj7090 aka John K Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Sudbury Posts: 2,367	if you can, do it in a bucket or a seperate tank to maximize the change?? of getting rid if our annoying friend

04/29/2002, 06:05 AM	#6
teknopanda Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: bay area, ca Posts: 370	won't arrow crabs eat the aiptasia off the clam? or can that relationship not exist?

04/29/2002, 07:29 AM	#7
jim norris Moved On Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 760	I would be afraid the arrow crab would eat the clam first! Jim

04/29/2002, 06:25 PM	#8
kedd Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 373	Peppermint shrimp and the right copper band solved the problem for me. Not one in the tank for couple of years now. (knock on wood) I have heard of having a problem with a copper band and clams,but I have never seen any of mine even look twice at a clam. They have been in the tank for about 3 years now. It would be a good question to poll though,I would like to know if I'm just lucky or if it is rare for a copper band to hurt a clam. The aiptasia that are too large for either of those,I inject with alkalinity. This kills them within a hour or so,and doesn't break them apart to spread to other parts of your tank, like scraping or brushing seems to. Kedd