Aiptasia or Curly Q?

MrPex · 06-29-2009, 11:11 PM

Hiya,

I've read around here quite a bit and used images.google.com and am still not quite sure if it's an Aiptasia or Curly Q.

I apologize for no pics, but it's still so small I can't get a pic of it at all. But it is semi-translucent brownish and the tentacles have white bands or spirals (can't quite tell yet- it's still so small- the head is about the size of a pencil eraser.) and it appears there are some white spots on the underside of the head or on part of the trunk.

Also, the mouth appears to be either whitish or greenish-white.

So can Aiptasia have white bands/spots or spirals, or is it most likely Curly Q?

I'd probably like to get rid of it either way, but from what I've read, Curly Qs aren't the pests that Aiptasia are, so to learn it was a Q would make me breathe a bit easier for now. Would that be fair to say?

Thanks much!

DrHank · 06-29-2009, 11:32 PM

Without pictures, it's tough to say for sure. In all probability it is aiptasia. A peppermint shrimp added to the tank will tell you for sure.

Peppermint Shrimp - Lysmata wurdemanni

If it's aiptasia, it's what's for dinner.

cbrownfish · 06-29-2009, 11:33 PM

Aiptasia can be almost clear, dark brown, tan with white bands, etc. Most likely an Aiptasis as stated.

CaRSMDuke · 06-29-2009, 11:59 PM

Sounds like aptasia to me. As Doc said above the peppermint shrimp will remove it easily, or if you don't want the shrimp, these can often be destroyed by mixing some thick kalkwasser and using a syringe to inject it in toward the mouth.

tektite · 06-30-2009, 12:13 AM

Does it look like this at all?

sevonty · 06-30-2009, 12:30 AM

make sure that it is an australian pepermint shrimp the other kind dont love aptasia like the aussie do.

MrPex · 07-02-2009, 01:33 AM

Yes, Tektite... it looks very similar. Mine is still super small but that's a very close match from what I can tell.

tektite · 07-02-2009, 01:41 AM

I haven't positively identified it, but I think its a type of curly-q. In 2 months, it hasn't reproduced or even grown much bigger. If you have the same one, I wouldn't be worried about it.

MrPex · 07-02-2009, 04:14 AM

Hey tek, look at this:

Aipatasia

DrHank · 07-02-2009, 08:41 AM

With the peppermint shrimp, you don't have to make the determination. The shrimp will do it for you (but it must be a wurdemanni).

MrPex · 07-02-2009, 08:31 PM

Last night, I was watching the nightlife after dark and by chance noticed three other, super teeny tiny ones growing- two on my live rock, and one on my glass. So today began my battle with the Apstasia. I got AptX and nuked the buggers. I also tried to get a Peppermint, but the guy at the LSF said that, for some reason, he's been having problems with suppliers having them in stock the last few months... hmm....

And, as luck would have it, when I got home with my AptX, one of the babies on the live rock had moved... the frikkin' hunt is on!

But on a good note, I got to pick up a couple of Emeralds! :-)

06-29-2009, 11:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
MrPex Star Polyps Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 170 View Gallery Karma Komment	Aiptasia or Curly Q? Hiya, I've read around here quite a bit and used images.google.com and am still not quite sure if it's an Aiptasia or Curly Q. I apologize for no pics, but it's still so small I can't get a pic of it at all. But it is semi-translucent brownish and the tentacles have white bands or spirals (can't quite tell yet- it's still so small- the head is about the size of a pencil eraser.) and it appears there are some white spots on the underside of the head or on part of the trunk. Also, the mouth appears to be either whitish or greenish-white. So can Aiptasia have white bands/spots or spirals, or is it most likely Curly Q? I'd probably like to get rid of it either way, but from what I've read, Curly Qs aren't the pests that Aiptasia are, so to learn it was a Q would make me breathe a bit easier for now. Would that be fair to say? Thanks much!

06-29-2009, 11:32 PM	#2 (permalink)
DrHank Golden Moray Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Crestview, FL Posts: 2,758 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Aiptasia or Curly Q? Without pictures, it's tough to say for sure. In all probability it is aiptasia. A peppermint shrimp added to the tank will tell you for sure. Peppermint Shrimp - Lysmata wurdemanni If it's aiptasia, it's what's for dinner. __________________ Doc Dr Hank's 210 Build: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...nks-tanks.html

06-29-2009, 11:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
cbrownfish Reef Lobster Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,592 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Aiptasia or Curly Q? Aiptasia can be almost clear, dark brown, tan with white bands, etc. Most likely an Aiptasis as stated. __________________ *Confucius Say: "best way to save face, is to keep lower part of face shut".* CURRENT SET UP -- 90 gallon display, 30 gallon refugium, 6 gallon pod breeder, 100 gallon sump (complete with frag rack), 2X250 MH 14K DE HQI, Vortech MP40w and Koralia #4 for flow, 2X Tunze 9010 Skimmers, Sequence Dart return, 2X Ranco Controllers w/Titanium Heaters, 150 lb LR (90 in display, 60 in sump), 5" DSB, Mixed reef - Softies, LPS, SPS, Clams.

06-29-2009, 11:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
CaRSMDuke Fire Coral Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Murrieta, Ca. Posts: 72 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Aiptasia or Curly Q? Sounds like aptasia to me. As Doc said above the peppermint shrimp will remove it easily, or if you don't want the shrimp, these can often be destroyed by mixing some thick kalkwasser and using a syringe to inject it in toward the mouth. __________________ Mike

06-30-2009, 12:13 AM	#5 (permalink)
tektite Neon dottyback Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 634 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Aiptasia or Curly Q? Does it look like this at all? __________________ --Tek-- No trees were harmed in the sending of this message; however, a significant number of electrons were slightly inconvenienced. My Fish Room thread

06-30-2009, 12:30 AM	#6 (permalink)
sevonty Tunicate Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 17 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Aiptasia or Curly Q? make sure that it is an australian pepermint shrimp the other kind dont love aptasia like the aussie do.

07-02-2009, 01:33 AM	#7 (permalink)
MrPex Star Polyps Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 170 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Aiptasia or Curly Q? Yes, Tektite... it looks very similar. Mine is still super small but that's a very close match from what I can tell.

07-02-2009, 01:41 AM	#8 (permalink)
tektite Neon dottyback Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 634 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Aiptasia or Curly Q? I haven't positively identified it, but I think its a type of curly-q. In 2 months, it hasn't reproduced or even grown much bigger. If you have the same one, I wouldn't be worried about it. __________________ --Tek-- No trees were harmed in the sending of this message; however, a significant number of electrons were slightly inconvenienced. My Fish Room thread

07-02-2009, 04:14 AM	#9 (permalink)
MrPex Star Polyps Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 170 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Aiptasia or Curly Q? Hey tek, look at this: Aipatasia

07-02-2009, 08:41 AM	#10 (permalink)
DrHank Golden Moray Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Crestview, FL Posts: 2,758 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Aiptasia or Curly Q? With the peppermint shrimp, you don't have to make the determination. The shrimp will do it for you (but it must be a wurdemanni). __________________ Doc Dr Hank's 210 Build: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...nks-tanks.html

07-02-2009, 08:31 PM	#11 (permalink)
MrPex Star Polyps Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 170 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Aiptasia or Curly Q? Last night, I was watching the nightlife after dark and by chance noticed three other, super teeny tiny ones growing- two on my live rock, and one on my glass. So today began my battle with the Apstasia. I got AptX and nuked the buggers. I also tried to get a Peppermint, but the guy at the LSF said that, for some reason, he's been having problems with suppliers having them in stock the last few months... hmm.... And, as luck would have it, when I got home with my AptX, one of the babies on the live rock had moved... the frikkin' hunt is on! But on a good note, I got to pick up a couple of Emeralds! :-)

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