Need Fish to Eat Colonial Anemones - Not SPS

[LazyReef]

Hi,
I am new here and just found this forum. I have a thriving SPS mostly reef. Unfortunately I also have thriving colonial anemones (Actinodiscus). I have hundreds!

Does anyone have any experience with fish that eat these anemones. I need a fish that prefers colonials and does not really like stonies. I am looking for something other than a Copperband butt. Thanks.

[Reefland]

Hi LazyReef and Welcome to Reefland!

When you say colonial anemones, I assume you are talking about the dreaded Aiptasia? If so, the only options you have for fish is the Copperband and sometimes they are hit and miss, as are Peppermint Shrimp. Other options are manual removal; boiling hot water or "kalk paste" being injected into them.

They are a real nusiance, I hope one of these suggestions help out.
Regards,
Scott Z.

[LazyReef]

Scott,
Thanks. Not aiptasia. I went to my LFS and bought a xlg Racoon Butt. and a xlg Copperband. I brought in 60 or so loose colonials and got some credit. The LFS pleaded with me to bring him the rock and he would trade me fresh rock, but I don't want to disturb my rockwork. Anyone have experience with a Racoon Butt. in a reef? I got the idea from Scott's Marine Fish book. So far he is going nuts over the actinodiscus colonials and any zooanthids. Lets hope he sticks to that menu.

[Poseidon]

Okay, I just did a Google search on.... Actinodiscus and I get hits for mushrooms!!!!



If that or something close to it is what you are trying to FEED to something else then STOP!!! Sell those puppies!!! Even a common reddish/orangish polyp sells for $6-8 EACH!!!

If you have that many sell 'em on EBay by the polyp in a dutch auction... Someone will buy them and you could end up with $100 or MORE just for scraping the little buggers off yur rock!!

[LazyReef]

Mike,

OK. That is a good idea. I did not know about selling them on ebay. I still have too many. I harvest ~10 a week out of the tank that just fall off. It is too hard to scrape them off, and I end up fraggin some SPS everytime I stick my mitts in tank. I cut them off, inject them, drill them out, everything. Also zooanthid polyps. They are overgrowing my montipora and hydnophora. I have been unable to control them, so like every reef problem, I am looking for a Lazy solution.

[Poseidon]

LOL!!

That's pretty funny... I also tend to frag things when I stick my hand in the tank to!!!! And my female Ocellaris keeps attacking me!!!! So I try to get in there to often either. Just make sure when you sell them you ship Overnight with Heat packs!!!

BTW what kind of Zoo's do you have? I'm looking to add some to my tank!!

[LazyReef]

OK. Well you got me going. I listed the anemomes on ebay. I will see if anyone really wants them. The zooanthids I have are nice. Small with an orange flour. center. I have tons. I went to take a picture for you, but my battery needs to be charged. I attached a picture of the anemones, I think...

[Poseidon]

Yup you posted a pic!!!

and YUP those are "regular" mushrooms.... Some reefers really like those and I'm sure you'll get some bids. Anything from $6 on up would be a good deal for both you and the buyer...

[Reefland]

You would probably some better ideas on your post and maybe some better hits on your ebay auctions if you call them mushrooms, which they are referred as most commonly. At least I was totally off with your original post.

Scott Z.

[LazyReef]

Scott,
Thanks for the advice. I did as you said. I have not sold any mushrooms yet, but I sold a lot of detritual/algae eating snails. Who knew? I gotta go out and catch more snails tomorrow. My wife thinks I am totally nuts. I think she has been thinking that ever since I explained that I bought $300 of LIVE rock at the LFS.

[Reefland]

It's a hard sell that's for sure. Then you get all the crazy looks when you tell people that the rock is live and get even crazier looks when you try to explain that it is full of living bacteria and other critters that they can't see!

Regards,
Scott Z.

[scubadude]

Anyone have experience with a Racoon Butt. in a reef? I got the idea from Scott's Marine Fish book.

I talked to Joy @ Harbor Aquatics and she uses Racoons to control Aiptasias and Majanos anenomes, I dunno about shrooms though.....I know I would try a Racoon if I had no access to a CBB or Peppermint shrimps (for aiptasias) ....but there again its a risk that the fish will nip at some soft corals or maybe not even eat your pest....But hey thats what having a reef tank is all about IMO Just be prepared to feed the fish a varied diet after the it has taken care of your problems.