Are Aiptasia Anemones Dangerous?

Hi, sorry for silly questions but haven't found a direct answer online. I found of these earlier and removed the small rock it was on, it's currently soaking in FW, ok to soak in Saltwater and put back in? I've found another on rock I can't remove. It is ok as I only have mushroom polyps that also hitch hiked or is it a threat to my fish (two young green spotted puffers 1.5" being joined by a 4" algae blenny tomorrow)? I am upgrading the tank as the puffers grow at which point I plan to add more soft corals, if I don't get on top of these now will they be a big problem by then? Also I'm avoiding sessile organisms that can envenom the fish (or me when I put my hands into the tank). If I need to get rid of these what is the best way without harsh chemicals or causing a rock slide? Thank you!

 

They aren't harmful to humans. You can be allergic to them though. If you're allergic to bees be extra careful. But they spread fast and will aggressively sting corals they get near. If you want coral, get them out.

 

I planned a FOWLR tank but as mushrooms are there I'd like to keep them happy and add some hairy ones and some toadstool leathers so will get these out. Are they a risk to fish (thinking puffers might nibble mistaking for worms and they're little guys right now, not loads bigger than anemones)? What is the best way to get rid of them? I lifted the small rock completely but this is my main piece!

 

Tweezer them off and put some reef epoxy over the spot they were in. You want to cover anywhere the foot was touching so it doesn't grow back from the tiny pieces leftover.

 

Hi,
I agree with the above. You want to get them out of your tank. They are a pest, but typically not harmful to humans. Like all anemones, they do have the ability to sting, not that you feel it, but it can leave little red spots on your skin.

There's lots of DIY solutions out there (many use lemon juice concoctions), and there are also commercial products like Red Sea's Aiptasia-X. I've used the Red Sea product and it is really effective.

 

Aiptasia X is pretty effective when they are few and small in size. The one thing I really like about Aiptasia X as opposed to other methods is that Aiptasia views Aiptasia X as food (much like a mouse viewing DCon as food). With other methods they often retract and can drop spores and spread if you aren't quick enough. With Aiptasia X they will ingest it and poison themselves from the inside out. I had one small one that hitchhiked on a Zoanthid Frag but I identified it early on, hit it with aiptasia X and it died and never came back. I did pop the frag out as a precaution (it was dead by that time anyways). That was almost 20 months ago and not a single aiptasia since.

 

Ah cool, is aiptasia x harmful to the fish or the water perimeters at all? In the meantime do I need to worry about them harming the fish? I have two juvenile puffers 1.5" and am picking up an algae blenny today who's about 4"

 

Ah cool, is aiptasia x harmful to the fish or the water perimeters at all?

Hi, read the instructions for Aiptasis-X - there's a recommended dose rate. Not sure how much it impacts fish, but there is a max dosage recommendation

 

AiptasiaX is a calcium product so the dangers are there when there are a lot of aiptasia to treat, then a lot of AiptasiaX enters the tank, which can impact the pH. Used in small amounts and as directed, I have found it not to be harmful to the tank, fish, or corals.

However... I absolutely hate injections for treating aiptasia. I used AiptasiaX safely, regularly, and as correctly as I could for about six months. Yet, the aiptasia colony kept growing at exponential rates. It could be that I wasn't targeting them perfectly, but indeed, that can be hard to be sure of when going after tiny nems. If any part of the pest remains, then more will arise. After months of this, I had hundreds of tiny aiptasia in my tank... so can honestly say that injections/AiptasiaX only made my problem worse. That was my first bout with aiptasia and the solution came with the purchase of Berghia nudibranchs, who are obligate eaters of aiptasia, (meaning they eat nothing else.) They arrived, were introduced, bred, and ate hundreds of aiptasia in my little 20 gallon reef tank. Then, sadly, the little cuties die because their food source is gone. Recently, aiptasia reared it's ugly head again and this time there were only a few. I don't necessarily recommend Berghias from the start or for everyone, but for me, even with less than a dozen, the nudis are the only option. Got them again about 3 months ago, they made quick work of the pests, and since there has been no sign of aiptasia coming back. Not that I expect this'll be my last experience with them, simply due to the prevalence of this pest... but personally, I will never use injections again.

As someone who has had a terrible bout of aiptasia, I can tell you that the biggest danger appears to be to corals. When they are everywhere, none of the corals are safe from their deadly stings. Plus, the compete with corals for food, since they will eat the same things. Since I am feeding corals, I sure don't want to waste the foods on pests, nor do I wish to nourish pests. I don't think they'd be harmful to your puffers, though I am not entirely sure of that. They do contain venom and I suppose there might be a danger if the puffers consume enough of them. That said, aiptasia are very quick to retract and protect themselves AND, there are certain fish that eat them too. Like this guy...

but I am not educated enough about it to know whether aiptasia are safe to eat, or if they are only safe to eat by certain species not affected by their venom.

Whatever route you go, do get rid of them if you want happy corals in the future. Good luck!

 

Ah cool, is aiptasia x harmful to the fish or the water perimeters at all? In the meantime do I need to worry about them harming the fish? I have two juvenile puffers 1.5" and am picking up an algae blenny today who's about 4"

Nope, not unless you dumped the whole bottle in the tank at once. Target feeding a few aiptasia at a time doesn't hurt anything but the aiptasia.

 

Cheers!