Aiptasia control by Peppermin Shrimp?

[FastUno]

Is this true? Will they keep things in check?
I have a coral banded shrimp, will they get along (probably not)?

Did you guys hear about this aiptasia eating berghia nudibranch? Anyone use them? Anyone have any to sell, borrow, or trade?
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=416417

 

[marrone]

It's hit or miss with peppermint shrimp and the same goes for copperband BF and nudibranch. Sometimes they'll get rid of everything other times they wouldn't touch them. The thing with the nudibranch is if they're isn't enough for them to eat they'll died.

 

[nanoreefer22]

If you have a CBS then it will kill the peppermint. I know, I tried and it wasn't pretty. Like Michael said its hit or miss.

 

[cali_reef]

How big is your tank and what kind\how much of flow?

I tried berghia few times (up to 10 at one time) and never really worked in my high flow tank, they get lost or sucked up in the pumps. I have bought pepermints from reeftopia.com and they did eat some of the smaller aptisia, larger ones may eat them . Copperbands are hit or miss too, I currently have one I bought from Fishtown and it ate every one of my aptisia and is eating fish food now, this is the third one I have tried in the last six months.

How many aptisia do you have? You can try kalking or Joe's Juice if you tank is small enough and you can move rocks around.

[ May 04, 2005, 10:10 PM: Message edited by: cali_reef ]

 

[jenniebutterfly]

i have had success with peppermints eating aiptasia, i had a few and now all are gone. but if you do get them, you will have to remove the cbs. also get more than one because it is hit or miss, if you buy like 3 at least one should have a taste for them.

 

[joseney21]

Kris i have the CBS i got from you in my tank with my two peppermint shrimp and they seem to be doing just fine...BTW the peppermints in my tank have kept aptasia that has come in on some live rock in check.

 

[FastUno]

90g w a Tunze 6060 (1600GPH) & a Return of 700GPH.

They are starting to pop up now. It started with just one & now it's probably the fastest spreading coral/anem in the tank. Wish it was my rics that would do that!!! At least if they were neon color, then I wouldn't mind as much. Luckily they have not stung anything yet.

I am having some evil thoughts of burrying them with some epoxy & closing them in. Only do this with 1 per 2 days, so levels don't get high.

 

[nanoreefer22]

Jose,

I'm amazed. I caught that guy with a live damsel in his claws. Yes the damsel was alive. I guess the bigger tank helps out with fighting. Enough room to stay out of eachothers way.

 

[bad coffee]

I've had great luck with pepermints. The one I have left from the invert order keeps them in check. I've got lots in my fuge to help with the nutrients. So once in a while I'm sure some get into the main tank. I just think of them as 'pepermint treats'

BC

 

[joseney21]

i never thought CBS was mean, i have to look it up again i guess, seems very easy going...maybe it has to do with the once missing claws,lol.

[ May 05, 2005, 05:58 PM: Message edited by: joseney21 ]

 

[nanoreefer22]

LoL...the trauma affected him. We need to get him some Shrimp thearpy and psychiatric care. I'll make some calls.

 

[ctxmonitor]

My CBS went through a trauma too and he just wont' die.. I was sort of disappointed that he was alive when my 10 gal crack and all the water was dried out. When I came home from work one day, I was suprise that my 10 gal QT crack.. I might have place too many live rock in it.. I had one firefly goby, pink clown, yellow tail demsal all died.. But he came out alive... That tell you how hardy these coral banded shrimp are..

Ok, ok, I got to let that go

.. Oh, back to the topic, my peppermint shrimp did a great job on cleaning the 4 aptasia that I had. I brought four peppermint shrimp from the group buy, they were quite a little fisty little shrimp. But my CBS got to most of them after they did a fine job in taking care of my aptasia. Now I only have one left, maybe this one is the fastest and healthest one out of all of them..

They even try to attack my RBTA from time to time.. I would get teh peppermint shrimp over the CBS if I had a choice..

Here is a shot to remind those that don't believe

 

[nanoreefer22]

NO NO NO...dude your bringing back horrible horrible memories...it was that exact same scene on a dark gloomy night....I...I...I see CBS kill Peppermints!!!

 

[FastUno]

Okay, that settles it. Who wants to buy/trade my CBS for some peppies?

 

[Hitsnorth]

I tried the berghia and they did kill off some aiptasia and then disappeared never to be seen again. Other have had luck with them.

Does anyone have a copperband that is known to eat aiptasia they want to sell?

 

[cali_reef]

Originally posted by FastUno:
90g w a Tunze 6060 (1600GPH) & a Return of 700GPH.

They are starting to pop up now. It started with just one & now it's probably the fastest spreading coral/anem in the tank. Wish it was my rics that would do that!!! At least if they were neon color, then I wouldn't mind as much. Luckily they have not stung anything yet.

I am having some evil thoughts of burrying them with some epoxy & closing them in. Only do this with 1 per 2 days, so levels don't get high.

Your Tunze WILL suck the burghia in, try a few peppermints as natural predator, they might work for you if the aptiasia is still small.