How to Get Rid of Aiptasia: What Worked in Our Reef Tanks

Years ago, someone left our store a Google review calling us "Aiptasia Heaven."

Unfortunately, they had a point.

We've spent years fighting Aiptasia across our reef systems. We're finally at the point where you can look into our tanks without immediately spotting it everywhere. That's progress, not a claim that every last one is gone.

Aiptasia, often called glass anemones, can spread through reef rockwork and sting nearby corals. A few are manageable. A tank full of them is a different story.

The short answer: for a serious infestation, Berghia nudibranchs have been one of our most effective tools. Aiptasia-eating filefish and certain peppermint shrimp are easier biological options to look into, though results vary. For a few anemones you can reach, Aiptasia-X can help. And sometimes replacing a removable, badly infested rock is the simplest fix.

Here's what we've learned from using these approaches.

1. Berghia Nudibranchs: Probably the Most Effective

Of the options we've tried, Berghia nudibranchs (Berghia stephanieae) have been among the most effective, especially when Aiptasia has spread throughout the rockwork.

Berghia feed only on glass anemones. They don't need to be trained to recognize Aiptasia as food, and they can reproduce in an aquarium if conditions allow. But this isn't an overnight fix.

They're expensive, not always easy to find, and easy to waste money on if you don't plan ahead.

Before buying, learn how many are appropriate for your tank and infestation, how their breeding cycle works, and whether your fish, shrimp or equipment could kill them. It can take time for a population to establish.

There's also an ending to plan for: once the Aiptasia is gone, Berghia eventually run out of food and starve.

I would research these carefully rather than just buying a handful and hoping for the best.

2. Easier Biological Options: Filefish, Peppermint Shrimp and Copperbands

These are generally easier to find through a local fish store or have ordered for you. I'd look into filefish or peppermint shrimp first, depending on what else is living in your tank.

Aiptasia-eating filefish (Acreichthys tomentosus). Also sold as the matted filefish or bristletail filefish. Some individuals do an excellent job on Aiptasia; others never seem interested. They can also nip at corals, so they're not a risk-free choice for an established reef.

Peppermint shrimp (Lysmata species). Certain species, including Lysmata boggessi, are used for Aiptasia control. Check which shrimp you're actually buying. "Peppermint shrimp" is a common sales name for several similar-looking animals, and even the right species isn't guaranteed to eat Aiptasia. Some may bother corals or other invertebrates. We carry peppermint shrimp for exactly this job, and they also help clean up detritus and leftover food.

Copperband butterflyfish (Chelmon rostratus). Some eat Aiptasia, but some don't. They're also demanding fish to feed and keep healthy. I wouldn't buy one purely as a pest-control solution. Only consider a Copperband if you can meet its long-term care needs.

One thing worth repeating: don't mix these methods blindly. Certain fish and shrimp may eat Berghia, so check compatibility before putting them in the same system.

3. Chemical Treatment: Red Sea Aiptasia-X

For a small number of Aiptasia that you can actually reach, Red Sea Aiptasia-X is another option.

The applicator lets you place the treatment near the mouth and cover the Aiptasia's oral disc. You aren't supposed to stab the anemone: Red Sea's manual says to bring the needle to the oral disc, let the tentacles close around the tip, then cover the whole oral disc. It also says to turn off everything that moves the water for about 15 minutes before and after treating.

Follow the manufacturer's application directions rather than guessing at the amount.

This is useful for individual visible Aiptasia, but treating an established infestation one anemone at a time gets tedious, and you may miss the ones hidden in the rockwork.

4. Physical Removal: Sometimes Just Replace the Rock

Sometimes the simplest solution is replacing the rock.

If one small, removable rock is absolutely covered in Aiptasia and doesn't have valuable corals attached, I'd seriously consider taking the whole thing out rather than treating every anemone individually.

Of course, it depends on your aquascape. You don't want to tear apart an established reef or remove a large portion of its biological filtration just to get rid of a nuisance anemone.

What Worked for Us

I don't think there's one perfect method for every tank. It depends on how many Aiptasia you have, what livestock you keep, how accessible the rockwork is, and how much time you're willing to give the process.

For us, the real win has been getting Aiptasia under control rather than claiming the systems are permanently 100% free of it.

These are a few methods we've tried and found useful over the years at TIA Collection Corals. Hope our experience helps.

A Couple of Common Questions

What is the best Aiptasia eater for a reef tank?
Berghia nudibranchs are specialized Aiptasia predators and have been one of our most effective options. Aiptasia-eating filefish and certain peppermint shrimp can also help, but individual animals vary and compatibility matters.

Do peppermint shrimp eat Aiptasia?
Some do. Certain species, including Lysmata boggessi, are used for Aiptasia control, but "peppermint shrimp" is a sales name for several similar animals and even the right species isn't guaranteed to eat Aiptasia. Some may also bother corals or other invertebrates.

Can Aiptasia come back after treatment?
Yes. Hidden anemones can survive and grow, and new Aiptasia can arrive on additions to the tank. Keep checking the rockwork even after the visible population drops.

For our wider approach to new corals and pest prevention, see How TIA Handles Pest Control and Not All Flatworms Are Coral Killers.

Sources

• Assessing the Trophic Impact of Bleaching: The Model Pair Berghia stephanieae/Exaiptasia diaphana. Describes Berghia as a specialist that preys only on glass anemones.
• Red Sea. Aiptasia-X Eliminator Kit manual (PDF).
• Coral Magazine. ORA introduces captive-bred Aiptasia-eating filefish.

Photo credits: The Aiptasia, Berghia, filefish and Copperband photos are illustrative photos by the credited photographers, not photos taken at TIA. Featured image: Aiptasia anemones, Honolulu, by Narrissa Spies, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Berghia stephanieae from Goodheart, J.A., Bazinet, A.L., Collins, A.G. & Cummings, M.P. 2015, Royal Society Open Science 2: 150196, doi:10.1098/rsos.150196, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0; cropped. Acreichthys tomentosus by Haplochromis, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Chelmon rostratus by Donald Davesne, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0. Some images resized.