Reef Pests and Their Ramifications (Part 2)

In part one of my reef pests article, I explored the gastropods and how most of them, are carnivorous and opportunistic in nature, hence they don't make a welcome or suitable addition to a reef aquarium. If you do decide to give some of these a try, constant watching for potential negative effects carrying out is essential. Yes, Turbo's, Astrea's, Trocea's, Cerith's, Nassarius', certain Conchs, stomatella and vermatid snails can be a great way of incorporating some of the more interesting and beneficial gastropods into your diverse and beautiful marine aquarium.

I will now explore two different species of marine animals that can disrupt the overall chemistry and balance of a reef aquarium while injuring or killing fish, corals and anything else they may come in contact with. These pests, which are normally inevitable in a marine environment, are bad news and the question surrounding the marine aquarium hobby is not whether you will get them or not, but when! Aiptasia and Mojano anemones are what I am talking about, and for anyone who has been in the marine hobby for any period of time, knows just how detrimental these nuisance anemones can become.

The Mojano and Aiptasia anemones are classified in the Phylum Cnidaria, along with corals, jellyfish, hydras and the anemones. The anemones are members of the class anthozoa, however, similar to the beautiful Long Tentacle, Condylactis, Carpet, Magnificent and Bubble Tip anemones. The main difference between the aiptasia and majano anemone and the other species of anemone is that the aiptasia and majano should not be introduced to a marine environment! These flowering animals contain a single sessile polyp with upright oral cavities. These anemones consist of stinging mechanisms or harpoons called nematocysts(cnidocytes) on their surrounding tentacles located on their oral discs with a mouth in the center of the disc.

The aiptasia or glass anemone can be identified by its small size, brownish colored base and fine tentacles due to its endosymbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) located within its tissue layer. The pest anemone may take on a clear, transparent appearance as well, thus the name glass anemone. These anemones rarely exceed an inch or two in diameter and height. Their are roughly seven species of glass anemone, all of which have plagued the marine aquarium hobby at one time or another.

Mojano anemones are the other demon of the marine aquarium hobby and, along with the aiptasia anemone, have contributed to injuries and the death of more than their share of beneficial, popular and important livestock throughout the years. The mojano anemone is actually, and unfortunately a pretty anemone. It usually has a bright lime green to neon green colored base with tentacles of similar appearance. Sometimes the tentacle tips will have a red to purple tinge to them and the tentacles are a more robust, thicker and shorter size than that of the aiptasia anemone.

Most of the time these anemones enter our captive environments unsuspectingly as hitchhikers on live rock or corals. They are notorious reproducers either sexually or even more efficient and effective through asexual reproduction. We try to remove these pests by using tweezers, our fingers or any other means of trying to rip these from their stronghold within our tanks. Success in attempting to incorporate and pursue this technique in eradicating these pests is null and void. The ease and speed of regeneration is extraordinary. Your attempts at removing these falls well short as they quickly can retract into a crevice or other difficult area that is not easily accessible. Even if you were able to get a hold of these anemones, if you do not remove the whole anemone, they will regenerate and may even produce more than one daughter polyp as a result. This similar tactic of fighting back through our determination and ignorance can be compared to the numerous attempts in riding the venomous and highly destructive Crown- of- Thorns Sea Star from the natural reefs of the world. Their population explosion on the reefs of the world are a direct result of less than adequate predatory measures, and the combined efforts of human intervention and error. Our attempts to kill these sea stars by trying to cut them in half, only led to a greater abundance of these nemeses' by regenerating each limb that was removed from the mother star.

The best methods of eradicating these pest anemones is through the control and maintenance of ideal water parameters that are low in dissolved nutrients. Other ways of combating the introduction and spread of these anemones is to perform a thorough check of the coral and rock that you plan on purchasing. If this step has been taken and you find that you still are finding these pests popping up like dandelions, the use of lemon or lime juice, acetic acid(vinegar), Joe's Juice or a paste of Kalkwasser and water can be a valuable tool to eradicate these flagrant pests. With the aid of a syringe/needle the liquid can be injected into the mouth of the anemone to destroy it.

Carrying this one step further, one can implement the use of Peppermint shrimp, red legged "hairy" hermit crab, nudibranch known as Berghia verrucicornis,Copperband or Raccoon Butterfly fish, Guinea Fowl Puffer, Queen Angelfish and various Centropyge Dwarf Angels, however, the first three listed are the only "reef Safe" animals to be introduced.

One side note regarding these pest anemones, they do carry a very intense and strong sting capable of killing anything they touch. In fact, the only species of coral that can hold its own and combat the deadly sting of the aiptasia anemone is the Catalaphyllia Jardinei(Elegance Coral) and Hydnophora species of coral! BE CAREFUL with your livestock knowing that these pests have found their way into your marine aquarium either accidentally or as a result of human error on your part. Your stringent actions and forethought to minimize the risk of introducing these pests into your tank are crucial and your best defense against these flowering weeds becoming a detrimental part of your diverse and beautiful marine aquarium. Prevention is your best defense, however, if an outbreak of these anemones invades your tank, the concoctions listed above will be your greatest assets to you, as you constantly strive to create and replicate an enjoyable, wonderful and vibrant marine biotope similar to that encountered in the wild, in reefs around the world.