Looking for Aiptasia-eating peppermint shrimp

[Bry]

A while back I read someone was looking for a home for their shrimp after it erradicated their glass anemone problem. What a great idea I thought.

Well fast forward many months and I've now got an aiptasia problem of my own now. The Aiptasia-X just isn't working like it did the first time I had this stuff a few years ago. I loved my copperband butterfly but I worry that I was lucky that I could get him to eat and was said when he came up with something wierd that took him out after two years of owning him.

So, I'm curious if anyone in the West or NW Austin area (including Cedar Park and Leander) has a peppermint shrimp, that is known to eat aiptasia, that they are wanting to take out of their tank. I'm actually willing to pay a few bucks for one but I thought I'd check this route first as I know others were just not wanting it as an inhabitant any longer after it had done its job.

Thanks,

Bryan

[+o0zarkawater]

I've had real good experiences with ones from the coast.... now if only I knew someone headed down there this weekend....

[gatortank]

I just got back from the coast (Galveston) and the shrimp are everywhere. My kids were picking them up on the shore. We had about 20-30 of them....but one of my kids broke my container and we had nothing else to put them in.

[+olaggie01]

I also had great luck with them with the peps from the coast. Maybe PM Bio3 and get his opinion.

[George Monnat Jr]

Now I really wish my dive trip hadn't been cancelled. If we'd stayed in Aransas Pass I wouldv'e caught some from the shore before leaving the next day. I have some from Bio3, but since i haven't noticed any aiptasia I can't comment on that.

[Bry]

I forgot about some people going on those trips. I am not going to Corpus any time soon nor will my having a 3 and 5 year old allow me to go out on the rocks and catch these things. All that being said, I hope someone finds this message. I don't mind buying the shrimpees at the store but sometimes they don't care for the aiptasia. I like the idea of getting one with a history of eating them.

Thanks,

Bryan

[KevinB]

I'd like to get a couple as well if anyone catches some

[reefninja]

We are going to North Padre (close to Port A) the 2nd week of June. Will hopefully catch some peppermint shrimp and bring back all we can. If you are still looking for some, we would be happy to trade for anything for our reef tank. Our reef tank is pretty new, and we could use frags of any kind, snails, etc. I will post when we get back.

[Bry]

I'm sure I'lll be still ready for the shrimp as the Aiptasia X isn't doing the trick. My aquarium is rather bare right now but I may be able to get a mushroom or to to you. They are nothing fancy until I decide on my lighting setup. Otherwise, I'm glad to fork up a couple of bucks per shimp; probably only want a couple at most.

[Inland Reef]

If you don't mind spending a little bit of $, I'd higly recomend berghia nudibranches. They aren't the cheapest solution, but the've been the absolute best way to eradicate aptasia.

The nudi's eat every bit of aptasia, even the ones that are deep down in the rocks. They don't bother corals. Best of all is that you can sell them off when the job is done and get your $ of out them or make some $.

[Bry]

Agreed. Years ago, when my tank was only a year old, I did go that route. However I never saw them again and the aiptasia didn't move. I think they crawled under a rock and died. I know they are awesome, and maybe my tank had something they didn't like, but I'm a bit gunshy of spending that kind of money ( + shipping) for those guys. If the pepperment shrimp doesn't happen, I'll be thinking about those guys again.

Thanks,

Bryan

[reefninja]

We are back from North Padre, and have a few to spare. Let me know if you still need them. Most are small, but here's a picture of a larger one we are keeping in this gallery. Let me know if you want to come get a couple.

http://www.austinreefclub.com/gallery/member/2699-reefninja/