[Xena47r]

Just bought some more live rock today...yay...but found a small shell stuck in a hole and saw a small creature on it. I tried to take a pic but the camera just doesn't focus well enough. (Correct that, I did get a pic and is included in the next thread) It is brownish-red in colour and has tenticles which are arranged all around a central area that looks like a tiny mouth. Could this possibly be aiptasia? And if not, any suggestions as to what it might be?

Thanks all!

[Xena47r]

Here is a picture. About the best I could get with my puny little 2.1 mp!

[Sueet]

Originally Posted by Xena47r

Here is a picture. About the best I could get with my puny little 2.1 mp!

Yep that's aiptasia!

[Xena47r]

Originally Posted by Sueet

Yep that's aiptasia!

Ok, so I am assuming I should get rid of it?

Thanks Sueet!

[Sueet]

Originally Posted by Xena47r

Ok, so I am assuming I should get rid of it?

Thanks Sueet!

Well..... I'm probably not the person to answer that question, since I keep a tank just for my aiptasia's (yes I feed them too).. But yes, if you don't want your tank overrun, you should get rid of it. Technically, if your water parameters are very good, and stable, they wouldn't likely become a problem... but unless you're a seasoned sw tanker, chances are your water params are nowhere near as stable as you would LIKE them to be ...

DO NOT... I repeat... DO NOT just scrape it off of the rock. It will leave cells behind that will grow into more new anemones.

I have a technique that will work, if you are patient... take the rock out of the water, and hang it upside down over a jar or bowl (size doesn't matter as long as it can support the rock) with enough water in it to just put the anemone's face just above the water..... let it sit that way for a while, the anemone will drop down into the water.... my aiptasias usually drop in less than an hour using this method. Do the same if you see any other anemones appear... look carefully because they can be virtually invisible when they are new.. well, born isn't the word, but you know what I mean

[Xena47r]

Originally Posted by Sueet

Well..... I'm probably not the person to answer that question, since I keep a tank just for my aiptasia's (yes I feed them too).. But yes, if you don't want your tank overrun, you should get rid of it. Technically, if your water parameters are very good, and stable, they wouldn't likely become a problem... but unless you're a seasoned sw tanker, chances are your water params are nowhere near as stable as you would LIKE them to be ...

DO NOT... I repeat... DO NOT just scrape it off of the rock. It will leave cells behind that will grow into more new anemones.

I have a technique that will work, if you are patient... take the rock out of the water, and hang it upside down over a jar or bowl (size doesn't matter as long as it can support the rock) with enough water in it to just put the anemone's face just above the water..... let it sit that way for a while, the anemone will drop down into the water.... my aiptasias usually drop in less than an hour using this method. Do the same if you see any other anemones appear... look carefully because they can be virtually invisible when they are new.. well, born isn't the word, but you know what I mean

Actually, I lucked out with this once since it attached to a shell that I can easily pick up. I will just have to be extra careful though because it is trying to move off of the shell. Thanks for your advice though, I have saved it for future reference, just in case!
As far as being a seasoned sw tanker, I wish! I am brand new to it and so I doubt very much the parameters are right!

Thanks, Sueet, you rock!

[Xena47r]

Ok, I just got rid of him and I have to say, it makes me a little sad.

[Sueet]

Originally Posted by Xena47r

Ok, I just got rid of him and I have to say, it makes me a little sad.

Now you know why I have a tank just for them... I couldn't bear to kill them... and you know, actually, once they get bigger, they're rather beautiful in their own right...And pretty kewl to watch eat too (you can see whatever they ate still whole inside their stalk)... Only thing is, they're dangerous to other tankmates... so like with any dangerous organism, it gets a 'species' tank. Besides, they don't cost anything, everyone I talk to is more than willing to give theirs to me, it's like a little bonus... LOL

[Xena47r]

Originally Posted by Sueet

And pretty kewl to watch eat too (you can see whatever they ate still whole inside their stalk)...

I can only imagine how cool that is. It is unfortunate I probably won't ever see it! Oh if only I had the finances! lol

[Sueet]

Originally Posted by Xena47r

I can only imagine how cool that is. It is unfortunate I probably won't ever see it! Oh if only I had the finances! lol

Well, truth be told, my aiptasia tank only gets whatever I don't use on my other systems..... It has a super cheap heater, a plenum filter, a sponge/powerhead filter... and a few rocks..... that's it! I figure ..... Everyone complains that the aiptasia go nuts when their tanks are out of whack... SOooooooooooo.. Why would I want to keep pristine water conditions for them? Seems like they like it a bit better on the imperfect side. And I didn't pay very much for the tank itself either... and only 1 normal output plant light to light it.... They seem very happy, so ?

Oh yeah, and I hand feed them (bits of krill mostly) so very little gets left to get into the substrate either...