Can Anyone Identify This Coral Please?

[Puncture.uk]

Hi,

Any ideas what coral this is?

Cheers, Sam

 

[STD]

Looks like Xenia to me

 

[littleme1969]

Yup deffo a brown/pink pulsing xenia. You have some serious pest anenome growing there

 

[Puncture.uk]

Hi,

Thank you both for your replies. Is Pulsing Xenia sought after? Common? Is this the stuff you can sell excess of? What's the deal with the anenome then? Do these 'pest' anenomes sting by the way?

Sam

 

[littleme1969]

Yes they will sting your corals and kill them and they multiply like rabbits on viagra Vinegar/lemon juice skuirt a small amount direct into the centre using a syringe, but make sure there are no coral/plants near by as it can burn, or you can by some joes Juice I think thats reef friendl
The xenia is common and actually seen as a bit of a pest as it grows really fast.
Poeple do sell it off on Ebay but it does not make much.

 

[Puncture.uk]

Hi,

I'll start killing them off then! There are shed loads of them... would the amount of vinegar (what type should I use by the way?) needed to do them all affect the water chemistry? What is Joes Juice?

Sorry for all the questions!

Sam

 

[STD]

Hi,

I'll start killing them off then! There are shed loads of them... would the amount of vinegar (what type should I use by the way?) needed to do them all affect the water chemistry? What is Joes Juice?

Sorry for all the questions!

Sam

They are aiptasia

I find injecting them with boiling water works well - Iuse the syringe I got from a inkjet refill kit

have a look at http/www.joesjuice.com/

peppermint shripms will eat them

Copperband butterflies will eat them but they arent the easiest of fish to keep and will also eat feather dusters

Several other butterflies will also munch them but they will also eat your corals

 

[Musho3210]

xenia is very common, and the problem may become getting it off your hands since it may take over your tank. Dont be surprised to be giving away free xenia or even throwing it out.....

But they are easy to take care of....

 

[Puncture.uk]

Peppermint shrimps - Would they eat only the pests or would they also eat corals as well? Are they expensive / hard to keep?

I've just seen quite a big crab... quite a nice surprise!

I touched the 'pest' a few times expecting to be stung but nothing...? Are humans affected by the venom?

Thanks for your help folks!

 

[littleme1969]

They dont sting humans, just corals. If you want to do lots at once then use the boiling water method as mentioned above, though not used it myself. If using vinegar I would only do a few at a time largest first (as these are more likely to spawn) leave a few days between treatments and keep checking your stats and other life in the tank. Large crabs are a bit of a worry as they will pry on sleeping fish and anything else they can get their little nippers on if hungry.

 

[Puncture.uk]

Hi,

I've just this minute bought 2 bottles of Joes Juice off ebay. The seller is in the US so it might take a while to come though. It's a shame about the crab.. he looked quite a character! I've lost him now though... they seem to just vanish as quickly as they appear!

Are Hermit crabs any good?

Sam

 

[Musho3210]

hermits are okish..... I got blue legged and some of them do some algae cleaning but most of the time they just search the sandbed for leftover food.

 

[Wraith001]

hermits are okish..... I got blue legged and some of them do some algae cleaning but most of the time they just search the sandbed for leftover food.

Imo any reef system with fish in shld have an amount of hermits as they play a vital role in the clean up of wasted food hence no decaying food = good water!

 

[Musho3210]

hermits are okish..... I got blue legged and some of them do some algae cleaning but most of the time they just search the sandbed for leftover food.

Imo any reef system with fish in shld have an amount of hermits as they play a vital role in the clean up of wasted food hence no decaying food = good water!

i firmly disagree, there are many other things that eat leftovers besides hermits, and may also do a better job, this includes various snails, various starfish, various worms, various shrimp, even various corals if you have enough of them..