aiptasia growing on my clam...how to treat?

[RioReefr]

I just noticed a small aiptasia growing near the edge of my crocea clam. Where it is growing, that part of the clam's mantle is not extending.

How do I treat this without affecting the well-being of the clam?

I was leaning towards filling a small syringe and shooting the aiptasia with one of the following:

1.) hot water
2.) lemon juice


Would it be better doing this at night when the clam closes up a lot more than during the day?

[Pslreefer]

You can use a toothbrush to get it off. The aiptasia will stick to the bristles of the toothbrush and it will come off with a slight brush motion. It’s hard to explain but it works. This is what I do when I see one that is easy to get to and not embedded in a hole in rock. I even feed them to my sun coral once I get it off lol

[A. Henin]

I tried everything in the market with no result. they all made the situation worse. To keep a long story short, buy at least two Berghia Nudibranchs, depends on the size of your tank and the severity of infestation, place them carefully within your rock structure, and ..... sit back. You will enjoy an aiptasia- free tank, in a few days or weeks, again, depending on your situation. And that is, my friend, the bottom line.

[Sam2832]

Originally Posted by Pslreefer

You can use a toothbrush to get it off. The aiptasia will stick to the bristles of the toothbrush and it will come off with a slight brush motion. It’s hard to explain but it works. This is what I do when I see one that is easy to get to and not embedded in a hole in rock. I even feed them to my sun coral once I get it off lol

+1 remove the clam from the tank place it in a bowl with tank water and use the toothbrush to remove the aptasia and other things. I did it on my clams several times with no bad consequences.


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[RioReefr]

I don't have an infestation, just one tiny little aipstasia that seemed to position itself on my clam -- and no pest is going to mess with my clam. My tank has actually been aipstasia-free for at least 6 months so not sure it even popped-up like that.

Anyway, I took the "hot water" approach.

However, I do like the idea of completing removing the clam and cleaning it inside a bowl.

[Pslreefer]

Originally Posted by RioReefr

I don't have an infestation, just one tiny little aipstasia that seemed to position itself on my clam -- and no pest is going to mess with my clam. My tank has actually been aipstasia-free for at least 6 months so not sure it even popped-up like that.

Anyway, I took the "hot water" approach.

However, I do like the idea of completing removing the clam and cleaning it inside a bowl.

An infestation YET, get that one you see out before you have a bunch lol

[Bill_Moorman]

Originally Posted by RioReefr

I don't have an infestation, just one tiny little aipstasia that seemed to position itself on my clam -- and no pest is going to mess with my clam. My tank has actually been aipstasia-free for at least 6 months so not sure it even popped-up like that.

Anyway, I took the "hot water" approach.

However, I do like the idea of completing removing the clam and cleaning it inside a bowl.

If you have one Aiptasia, you have more. They are probably elsewhere where you haven’t seen them yet.


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[RioReefr]

Just an update, I had squirted hot water on the aipstasia last night again when the clam shell was almost completely shut. I did it about 4-5 times with a syringe.
This morning I found that little aipstasia floating around the water column and took it out of the tank.

That area where the clam's mantle was exposed is almost fully extended (albeit a bit discolored I am sure by some stings by the aipstasia). Hopefully, the mantle in that area was not permanently damaged.

[Bill_Moorman]

Originally Posted by RioReefr

Just an update, I had squirted hot water on the aipstasia last night again when the clam shell was almost completely shut. I did it about 4-5 times with a syringe.

This morning I found that little aipstasia floating around the water column and took it out of the tank.



That area where the clam's mantle was exposed is almost fully extended (albeit a bit discolored I am sure by some stings by the aipstasia). Hopefully, the mantle in that area was not permanently damaged.

Right on! Congrats!


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[shaginwagon13]

Originally Posted by RioReefr

Just an update, I had squirted hot water on the aipstasia last night

I have to do this tomorrow. There is one little guy I cannot seem to get rid of and I have already tried Kalk paste twice now.

He keeps popping back up in the exact same spot.

[Silly clownfish]

I had a similar issue with my maxima - I think it came in with the clam (yes I only Qt’ed for a couple of days due to not having a clam-worthy QT). I used the kalk slurry in a syringe method. It worked without harming the clam.