Learn About Aiptasia to Kill Them
Originally posted in 2006
Updated in 2025
Learn About Aiptasia to Kill Them: Natural Aiptasia control is the goal of most reef keepers. Thousands of reef hobbyists and professionals now know that the Aiptasia removed by Berghia nudibranchs do not leave remnants from the foot of the Aiptasia behind to grow back later. Biologists and advanced reef keepers now recognize our Berghia nudibranchs are the only method of Aiptasia control or removal that consume the Aiptasia’s Planula Larva preventing them from being released into the water column. Aiptasia species anemones are imported from around the world on mariculture coral plugs and live rocks as well as traded between tanks on macro algae and at frag swaps. Aiptasia are also easily obtained from aqua cultured corals that are grown in facilities that have not started using Berghia for Aiptasia control. Berghia is the only absolute natural Aiptasia control that can get down under, in holes and cracks and specifically remove the Aiptasia anemones including all Berghia Verrucicornis (Aeolidiella berghia stephanieae) Nudibranch Eating Aiptasia Anemone
Originally widely published in journals and reef trade articles as one species, history reveals that several distinct species have been combined as if they were all one species. The nudibranch that exclusively feeds on Aiptasia anemones received its own distinct taxonomical record in 2005. As of that date, the common name for the aquarium industry will remain “Berghia” and the correct scientific name is Aeolidiella stephanieae for this species.
the pedal lacerates and tiny Aiptasia that are the result of spawning in the reef. There is no fish or shrimp that can get all those tiny Aiptasia beginnings. Berghia may be combined with an Aiptasia eating fish to naturally control Aiptasia, but the nudibranch is effective without any help when given the time. If a fish is used, the fish will keep some the anemones that can be seen from growing on the top side of rocks and the Berghia nudibranch will remove the rest of the Aiptasia from the top, between coral colonies and from down under. It is the down under part we don’t see that is the most important for a complete and final solution. It is possible to control Aiptasia species anemones such as Aiptasia mutabilis, Aiptasia pallida [Dysactis pallida], Aiptasia pulchella, Aiptasia californica with the Berghia nudibranch (occasionally misspelled as Bergia, a plant taxonomy) also known as Aeolidiella stephanieae, that is tank bred here at INSTAR. Learn more about Aiptasia (sometimes misspelled as aptasia or aptasis), the dreaded Glass Anemone, to ensure success in removing it from your aquarium while still maintaining healthy live rocks, viable live sand and stable system parameters by reading the articles in the links below.
Aiptasia Biology – Berghia Adults, Best For Aiptasia Control, Here’s Why…
Berghia Pictures – Understanding Growth, Size and More…
The Berghia Point of View – Pictures, Understanding The Algorithm and More…
More links coming to help develop a successful aiptasia control program for all.
Once full of aiptasia the reef system below was saved by 11 Berghia Stephanieae nudibranches.
