aiptasia

[Zoaelite]

Although many will advocate against the use of the Copperband Butterfly I'm personally for them. Its said they have terrible track records in captivity but my first lasted 2+ years (died from a rockwork collapse) and my second is going 3 years strong.

Amazing fish, will eat right out of your hand if trained. In addition to this he feverishly devours the little nems. Didn't touch any of my coral (including zoos) to boot.

[asylumdown]

Originally Posted by Zoaelite

Although many will advocate against the use of the Copperband Butterfly I'm personally for them. Its said they have terrible track records in captivity but my first lasted 2+ years (died from a rockwork collapse) and my second is going 3 years strong.

Amazing fish, will eat right out of your hand if trained. In addition to this he feverishly devours the little nems. Didn't touch any of my coral (including zoos) to boot.

+1, I love my CBB. Don't think I'll ever run a system without one. Once they're acclimated I think they're as robust as any other fish, it's getting them acclimated that can be tricky. If the one you bring home isn't already aggressively eating a wide variety of frozen food IMO they require a month or so of TLC in a low competition QT system just so they can be trained to eat. It's when people put a freaked out, freshly caught CBB that's never even seen a mysis before straight in to a community tank that they whither away, get sick and die. Once they're eating prepared foods with gusto they can hold their own against anyone. By the time my CBB went in, the berghias were very clearly winning the aiptasia war (ie, entire rocks were being cleared overnight) so I never got a chance to see what he could do. But when there was still aiptasia in the tank he'd only touch the very tiniest of them, he completely ignored anything bigger than 2 or 3 mm across. He was a lot smaller then though, so maybe he'd go after bigger ones now. Since I know he eats the small ones, I consider him an insurance policy against re-infestation now that the berghias have all been sold or starved.

[reefme]

Originally Posted by asylumdown

+1, I love my CBB. Don't think I'll ever run a system without one. Once they're acclimated I think they're as robust as any other fish, it's getting them acclimated that can be tricky. If the one you bring home isn't already aggressively eating a wide variety of frozen food IMO they require a month or so of TLC in a low competition QT system just so they can be trained to eat. It's when people put a freaked out, freshly caught CBB that's never even seen a mysis before straight in to a community tank that they whither away, get sick and die. Once they're eating prepared foods with gusto they can hold their own against anyone. By the time my CBB went in, the berghias were very clearly winning the aiptasia war (ie, entire rocks were being cleared overnight) so I never got a chance to see what he could do. But when there was still aiptasia in the tank he'd only touch the very tiniest of them, he completely ignored anything bigger than 2 or 3 mm across. He was a lot smaller then though, so maybe he'd go after bigger ones now. Since I know he eats the small ones, I consider him an insurance policy against re-infestation now that the berghias have all been sold or starved.

What your CBB ignored anything bigger than 2 or 3 mm. Good thing I didn't buy a CBB, because my aiptasia is about the size of a toonie.

[mohammadali]

In my experience do NOT touch or inject them , i had 5 in aiptasia in my tank i injected with lemon juice and it didnt work , buy berghia nudibranchs to eat all of your aiptasias

[kwdrysdale]

I have inject each one with 1ml of vinegar straight from the jug. As long as you get the body it never returns. In my uneducated beginnings I was told by my LFS that they were harmless and even a good thing. So...one of my rocks had a few on it. Killed them all during tank cycling and have only seen a couple since then. As soon as I see one it meets the syringe with vinegar. It can be a slow process if you have lots, but very effective in my experience. I've also heard boiling water will do the same thing.

Kevin

[gregzz4]

I've had success injecting Aiptasia and Mojanos with lemon juice straight out of the fridge
The trick is to blast them dead center before they start to close up
Do it in the middle of your 'lights on' period when they are fully open for ease of injection and less risk of cell release
A steady hand and an insulin syringe are best
Get as close as you can without touching it, or creating water movement, or they will start to close. If so, wait 'till they open
Then, get close and WHAM
It'll shrivel up taking the juice in with it and 'buh bye' pest

[reefme]

Originally Posted by gregzz4

I've had success injecting Aiptasia and Mojanos with lemon juice straight out of the fridge
The trick is to blast them dead center before they start to close up
Do it in the middle of your 'lights on' period when they are fully open for ease of injection and less risk of cell release
A steady hand and an insulin syringe are best
Get as close as you can without touching it, or creating water movement, or they will start to close. If so, wait 'till they open
Then, get close and WHAM
It'll shrivel up taking the juice in with it and 'buh bye' pest

How much lemon juice?

[gregzz4]

Originally Posted by reefme

How much lemon juice?

Maybe 4 or 5 ml
I used an Elos syringe, but it was akward as the tip is pretty large
If I ever have to do it again, I will get a proper syringe from the pharmacy

[monkE]

after reading this thread i just injected some lemon juice into the 3 that are visible in my tank and they certainly didn't like it. I used a pipette and got it directly down their throat before they could close up.

We'll see if its a permanent fix but for now it's clear that they really disliked that lemon juice.

[kwdrysdale]

A proper syringe definitely makes the dosing more effective. I got a 10 pack of syringes from Wal-mart pharmacy for a couple bucks. World of difference.

Kevin