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Aiptasia Eating Filefish

Mrx7899x

Mrx7899x

Anyone have any experience with one? Some people say they are reef safe some people say they aren't. I have a couple aiptasia in spots that I cant get to and want to get them before they spread.
 
Sponge

Sponge

Mine is a master... a beast... a sultan. He is is the single greatest addition to my system. I love him. I move him tank to tank and he is a relentless hunter. Doesn’t bother tank mates changes color in a flash when hunting. Or resting. Camouflages to sleep and extremely fun to watch swim and hunt. With that said. They are hit or miss but there are ways to improve your odds.
 
W

Wilson

My peppermint shrimp solved my problem, ate the large and small. Now that the aiptasia problem is solved, they're more or less ornamental and still cool to see them scurry around.
 
Humblefish

Humblefish

NJRC Member
Article Contributor
IME; Filefish are hit or miss with corals. I personally would try Peppermint Shrimp or Berghia Nudibranchs before investing in a fish for aiptasia control. Even Copperbands will sometimes pick at Acans and Chalices. They seem to like the most expensive ones too. :p
 
Mrx7899x

Mrx7899x

Tried peppermint shrimp put 3 of them in there about 3 weeks ago haven't seen them since. I think my triggers ate them. Also tried Berghia Nudibranchs but it's only been a couple days so I'll see what happens with them. Tank is mainly sps plus I think they are cool looking fish. I would love a copperband but dont want to train it to eat frozen.
 
M

mnat

Officer Emeritus
Staff member
Moderator
Ours destoyed the aiptasia, and then started working on our corals so they had to go, and they were captive raised. Our copperband was still the best for aiptasia control but they are so hit or miss getting one to live.
 
MadReefer

MadReefer

Vice President
Staff member
NJRC Member
Moderator
mnat said:
Ours destoyed the aiptasia, and then started working on our corals so they had to go, and they were captive raised. Our copper band was still the best for aiptasia control but they are so hit or miss getting one to live.
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I passed on two Copper Bands recently. Big beautiful fish but they were not eating and price was very good. Can you guess why....LOL
 
Sponge

Sponge

My understanding with file fish. And yes I know I’m one of the lucky ones. Is start with a captive bred. And if you have a a tank like a refugium. That is separate from your main tank but plumbed in your system and it has aiptaisia or your willing to take some from your tank and seed it but pretty sure you won’t have to. Put the fish in there. And don’t feed It Ever. You won’t have to. They like aiptaisia but let’s face it. Free floating tasty food is simple and they will just wait for it when you feed your tank. But in there where food is scarce they will quickly start to hunt. Leave them be for a month. Even if they eat what you believe it to be all of it. There always more you don’t see. They will learn to become amazing hunters. And when you move it to main tank will always hunt even while eating the prepared food available to it. I can tell mine does. ALWAYS HUNTING. It’s a site to see. There so intense is freaky.
 
Mrx7899x

Mrx7899x

I'm going to give the Nudibranchs a week or two. Then I think I'm going to give one a try from what I've read they dont swim fast so they aren't hard to get out. Maybe I'll get lucky and it wont mess with my lps.
 
DangerDave

DangerDave

NJRC Member
Mrx7899x said:
I'm going to give the Nudibranchs a week or two. Then I think I'm going to give one a try from what I've read they dont swim fast so they aren't hard to get out. Maybe I'll get lucky and it wont mess with my lps.
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How many did you put in? I want to use them, but they’re expensive for how they work on a boom and bust cycle. I’m tired of constantly fighting them, winning, then getting them reintroduced. I’m going to pick up a few 10g tanks, and start trying to cultivate them. I know it’s just to feed the nudis but Lmao I can’t believe I’m about to start up an aptasia tank.
 
Mrx7899x

Mrx7899x

I put 8 in there because I only have 5 aiptasia that I can see and that's what they recommended. They are not cheap and its pretty much you put them in and hope for the best cuz you never see them. They aren't hard to breed just have to keep them fed a 10 gallon full of aiptasia would work.
 
Sponge

Sponge

Mrx7899x said:
I put 8 in there because I only have 5 aiptasia that I can see and that's what they recommended. They are not cheap and its pretty much you put them in and hope for the best cuz you never see them. They aren't hard to breed just have to keep them fed a 10 gallon full of aiptasia would work.
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Can you use nudibranches in a tank with a trigger. Won’t they just get gobbled up???
 
Mark_C

Mark_C

Staff member
Officer Emeritus
NJRC Member
Moderator
Got 2 at different times, both in same 110g tank. Feed them regularly and neither has touched a coral. Plus with their color and pattern changes, as well as the chill and explore attitude, they’re my favorite fish in the tank.
 
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