Aiptastia Eating Bristletail Filefish

[Derek]

Does anyone have any experience with Aiptastia Eating Bristletail Filefish? I am curious what the probability is that they will actually eat aiptastia.

[barderer]

I would think that would be a tad risky to introduce to your reef. I would get some peps from someone that has visited the coast lately. My rate of success with Texas peps is 100%.

[Derek]

I would think that would be a tad risky to introduce to your reef. I would get some peps from someone that has visited the coast lately. My rate of success with Texas peps is 100%.

I have a few peppermint shrimp in my tank that I just got a week or so ago. The only issue is that I have a marine beta, two hawkfish, and a large wrasse. If the peppermints stray too far off the rocks they get munched. Maybe they will be come nocturnal peppermints that feast on aptaistia at night.

[caferacermike]

Kalk.

There was no spot to vote for kalk paste. Has NEVER failed me. If'n you want I can come by Thurs or Fri evening to help you kill them off and show you the procedure. I generally aim for 3 doses. Each dose kills whatever it touches but I don't like that much Kalk sitting in a tnak if it is a large infestation. I have 4 1/2 gallons of Kalk powder so I promise we will win.

[medi]

I agree boiling kalk paste works extremely well, but if you can find a peppermint shrimp that will eat them then that is much easier. I don't know if this helps you at all, but mine only come out at night. I never see them unless I get out the red light and start looking.

[acropoorer]

Not sure why no one wants to use a copperband butterfly. I have owned three and all of them have kept my tanks completely clear. There is a small risk of coral nipping, but if you feed them, not a problem. I had one that lived for 4 years plus and a second one I've had for almost two years. And hey, pretty to look at and not very expensive.

[Derek]

Not sure why no one wants to use a copperband butterfly. I have owned three and all of them have kept my tanks completely clear. There is a small risk of coral nipping, but if you feed them, not a problem. I had one that lived for 4 years plus and a second one I've had for almost two years. And hey, pretty to look at and not very expensive.

I love copperband butterflies. I have been trying to get one, but they keep dying on me. I may get one from LiveAquaria or Vivid in a few weeks. I need to wait and see what my Queen's Angel does. She is a little under the weather.

[Derek]

Kalk.

There was no spot to vote for kalk paste. Has NEVER failed me. If'n you want I can come by Thurs or Fri evening to help you kill them off and show you the procedure. I generally aim for 3 doses. Each dose kills whatever it touches but I don't like that much Kalk sitting in a tnak if it is a large infestation. I have 4 1/2 gallons of Kalk powder so I promise we will win.

I may have to take you up on the offer if the peppermints don't start doing their job. I'll wait a week or two and see what happens.

[GKarshens]

In my opinion Copperband Butterfly's should be left in the ocean. They have a VERY poor success rate long term. I'm sorry but even 4 years is a short life for fish that can live 25+.

I had good success with Peps in the past.

[barderer]

Derek,

its very important you get the right type of pep. Often the ones available to us are not the variety you need. When I get home I will send you pics that will help you identify what type you have. Also, mine only come out at night. That is when they naturally come out in nature as well.

N

[Derek]

Ah cool. Thanks Nick.

[caferacermike]

Keep in mind that most peps will only eat small or injured aptasia. That's why when I had some that needed to go, I kalked them all first, then let the peps clean the tnak. Worked very well. Much success.

[Derek]

It looks like the peppermints are working. Some of the larger aptastias were looking a bit tattered today! Yay!

[barderer]

Here are the peps that I KNOW eat the nasties, they also eat the goodies so remove them after they are done.

Lysmata hochi (Can be found all along the southern Texas coast)

Lysmata wurdemanni (Wide range all across Texas and the Caribbean

)

[caferacermike]

Dewd that bottom one is staring at me and creeping me out.

[mdavis735]

That's funny right there. I don't care who ya are.