Aiptasia (Glass Anemone) Pest Guide
Aiptasia pallida (now Exaiptasia diaphana) is a persistent reef-tank pest anemone that stings corals and spreads rapidly; this guide covers control.
Overview
Aiptasia is one of the most persistent and troublesome pest anemones in reef aquariums. The species long known as Aiptasia pallida is now classified as Exaiptasia diaphana in the family Aiptasiidae. The animal is semitranslucent brown, gray or white, brown coloration deriving from symbiotic zooxanthellae (Symbiodinium microadriaticum), with up to 96 tentacles, a tentacle spread reaching about 8 cm and a body up to roughly 5 cm tall.
Taxonomy
- Family: Aiptasiidae
- KB scientific name: Aiptasia pallida
- Currently accepted name: Exaiptasia diaphana
- Common names: glass anemone, pest anemone
Why it is a problem
Aiptasia reduces water flow, steals food and stings corals it contacts. There are few permanent solutions, so it is listed here for awareness rather than as a recommended animal. It is documented as prey for the sea slugs Berghia coerulescens and Spurilla neapolitana.
Control methods
- Peppermint shrimp (Lysmata boggessi): an affordable biological control where no shrimp predators are present
- Berghia nudibranchs: specialist Aiptasia predators that hunt them down to extinction
- Aiptasia-eating filefish (Acreichthys tomentosus) and copperband butterflyfish (Chelmon rostratus)
- Targeted chemical injection of individual polyps
Prevention
- Quarantine and inspect coral purchases before adding them
- Avoid overfeeding the tank
- Maintain good mechanical filtration