Reef Aquarium Fact #153 Berghia nudibranchs will rid your aquarium of aiptasia as that is all they e

revhtree · Jun 7, 2012

We are going to continue discussing the reef aquarium facts submitted by our members. Do you agree or disagree? What are your thoughts?

Fact #153

Berghia nudibranchs will rid your aquarium of aiptasia as that is all they eat.

Truth or False? What else might we need to learn on this subject? Please also share any pictures that may pertain to the subject.

image

Mike&Terry · Jun 7, 2012

They are excellent predators of aiptasia if you can keep them alive. Adults only reach about 1" in size. They are fragile and often become casualties to pumps, overflows, etc... Once their food source is gone, they will not survive without intervention.

shred5 · Jun 7, 2012

Yes they can... They are just very hard to keep in a reef tank.

KING · Jun 7, 2012

ive been told they can also eat small polyp zoos :sad:

revhtree · Jun 8, 2012

Has anyone ever had them eat zoas?

shred5 · Jun 8, 2012

No I have not nor have I ever heard of it before. I have seen nudis that look similiar that eat zoa's.

KING · Jun 9, 2012

yeah a buddy of mine found a couple of these small guys in his tank eating his zoos up and brought one over in a little jar. not 100% sure it was the same but it looked just like it.

Reefpestsolutions · Jun 12, 2012

This is a fact. Rev the pic you posted is a sad berghia nudibranch

Reefpestsolutions · Jun 12, 2012

secretreefer · Jun 12, 2012

so berghia nudi's sometimes go "rouge"?

Reefpestsolutions · Jun 12, 2012

No never ever. It is not biologicaly possible. The reason why is the only food they can process in there cindosack is aiptasia, not even majanos.

secretreefer · Jun 12, 2012

thanks alot for the info. i'll be in touch! fosho!

Ninjapotamus · Jun 12, 2012

from what I understand they are very difficult to keep alive and take a long time to actually put a dent in the aiptasia problem

peppermints are a better option in my book

shred5 · Jun 12, 2012

Ninjapotamus said:
from what I understand they are very difficult to keep alive and take a long time to actually put a dent in the aiptasia problem

peppermints are a better option in my book

Problem is peppermints are hit or miss and they do eat other things. They are not anemone safe either. The will tare apart a anemone for the food they just ate.

Acrokeeper3729 · Jun 12, 2012

I bought a bunch of them once and put them in a ten gallon tank, I put a rock covered in aptaisia in the tank and they cleared it out within a couple of days, large rock with alot of aptaisia. The only problem then was that they all hid in the rock and I couldn't get at them, So I put them and the rock in the tank to rid the rest of the tanks aptaisia. I never saw them again and the aptaisia didnt go away. More then likely they got eaten by all my fish. They do what they say they will, but many reef fish like to eat them too so in my opinion, they are only suited for some set ups.

Reefpestsolutions · Jun 12, 2012

nicks387 said:
I bought a bunch of them once and put them in a ten gallon tank, I put a rock covered in aptaisia in the tank and they cleared it out within a couple of days, large rock with alot of aptaisia. The only problem then was that they all hid in the rock and I couldn't get at them, So I put them and the rock in the tank to rid the rest of the tanks aptaisia. I never saw them again and the aptaisia didnt go away. More then likely they got eaten by all my fish. They do what they say they will, but many reef fish like to eat them too so in my opinion, they are only suited for some set ups.

Shrimp?

reef life · Jun 12, 2012

I have several Aptasia terminators in my system.(Berghias) They are doing a great job destroying aptasia. They are even in my overflows eating the hard to blast spots. If you have berghias, check your sock when you do a water change, I found one every time I did water change so far. Never seen any bad results from having them, Yet. I have peppermint shrimp also , they started out eating the aptasia but I feed heavy so they have plenty to eat. After I bought some and released in tank, I read that shrimp will eat berghias. If this is true the berghias are multiplying(See the rings of eggs) because I do see them in overflows and sump and occasionally in the reef.

dknuckles · Jul 2, 2012

Some time ago I had a terrible Aiptasia problem and ordered a dozen Berghia. I have always heard but never tried them until now.

The Aiptasia quickly had overtaken my tank and nothing was working to remove them. I decided to order 12 adults to take out the Aiptasia. The supplier warned me that it is a SLOW start process..he was 200% accurate!
The Bergs immediately head for cover when first introduced to tank and quickly vanished. I did not see 1 Berg for over 2mnths! The Aiptasia kept spreading and absolutely no sign of the $200 worth of Berghia

Then the Aitasia just seemed to be decreasing in numbers but still no sign of Berghia. Now Berghia (and eggs everywhere!) but even better no Aiptasia!!!

The other note re eating zoas...
What I had noticed is the Berghia munching the baby Aiptasia growing on side of some Palys. The polyp was upset and closed while being "cleaned" but now a few days later polyp opened nicely and w/o any critter damage.

Overall it was a tremendous experience w/ these critters

38bill · Jul 2, 2012

dknuckles said:
Some time ago I had a terrible Aiptasia problem and ordered a dozen Berghia. I have always heard but never tried them until now.

The Aiptasia quickly had overtaken my tank and nothing was working to remove them. I decided to order 12 adults to take out the Aiptasia. The supplier warned me that it is a SLOW start process..he was 200% accurate!
The Bergs immediately head for cover when first introduced to tank and quickly vanished. I did not see 1 Berg for over 2mnths! The Aiptasia kept spreading and absolutely no sign of the $200 worth of Berghia
Then the Aitasia just seemed to be decreasing in numbers but still no sign of Berghia. Now Berghia (and eggs everywhere!) but even better no Aiptasia!!!

The other note re eating zoas...
What I had noticed is the Berghia munching the baby Aiptasia growing on side of some Palys. The polyp was upset and closed while being "cleaned" but now a few days later polyp opened nicely and w/o any critter damage.

Overall it was a tremendous experience w/ these critters

Like stated they work slowly. About the time you think they are all dead you notice that the Aiptasia are almost gone. Soon the nudies are wandering around looking for food and they will starve. Unfortunately a couple of Aiptasia usually survive and end up spreading again. Its been about a year and a half since I sold off my Berghias and the Aiptasia is just starting to appear again. The ideal situation would be to have some Berghias that are shared with others. PS: I have a 215G heavily stocked with wrasse and the nudies were able to live and reproduce despite the hungry wrasse.

Reefpestsolutions · Jul 3, 2012

dknuckles said:
Some time ago I had a terrible Aiptasia problem and ordered a dozen Berghia. I have always heard but never tried them until now.

The Aiptasia quickly had overtaken my tank and nothing was working to remove them. I decided to order 12 adults to take out the Aiptasia. The supplier warned me that it is a SLOW start process..he was 200% accurate!
The Bergs immediately head for cover when first introduced to tank and quickly vanished. I did not see 1 Berg for over 2mnths! The Aiptasia kept spreading and absolutely no sign of the $200 worth of Berghia
Then the Aitasia just seemed to be decreasing in numbers but still no sign of Berghia. Now Berghia (and eggs everywhere!) but even better no Aiptasia!!!

The other note re eating zoas...
What I had noticed is the Berghia munching the baby Aiptasia growing on side of some Palys. The polyp was upset and closed while being "cleaned" but now a few days later polyp opened nicely and w/o any critter damage.

Overall it was a tremendous experience w/ these critters