Banded aiptasia on clam?

[Minh B.]

I purchased this beautiful maxi clam recently from one of our sponsors & noticed that it came with some hitchhikers on its shell. Most seems innocuous except for two spots with what appears to be banded aiptasia, each with about 6-8 pronounced tentacles. My questions are 1) anyone experience this & 2) would getting rid of it (with aiptasia x) on the clam shell be acceptable & safe?

 

[Coral Hind]

I would remove the clam and completely cover the aiptasia with super glue or reef gel. You could use kalk paste or aiptasia-x but be careful not to let any become free floating and enter or settle on the clam mantle.

[Minh B.]

Oh, forgot to say in the picture, it's right in the center on the clam shell. Splotchy white/black star-like shaped.

[Coral Hind]

I see it. It's small now so I would get rid of it fast before it spreads. The aiptasia-x to me is not 100% effective. For something small like that I would just seal it in with glue.

[Minh B.]

Coral Hind, is it safe to expose the clam to air? And if so, for how long or until the super glue gel dries? BTW, thanks for the suggestion.

[Coral Hind]

They can be out of the water for an hour no problem but you only need a few minutes. It will close up just like they do on a reef at low tide. Just blot the area dry to get the aiptasia to shrink up, then cover with glue.

[Minh B.]

Great. Thanks for the info!

[Marc Weaver]

Keep it away from power outlets, etc. as it may spit a stream of water out when removed from the tank.

[SunWyrm]

Keep it away from power outlets, etc. as it may spit a stream of water out when removed from the tank.

 

 

I've always found them to be very accurate in their aim for a person's face...

[Minh B.]

Ha! So I did first Aiptasia X and one out of the two imploded so I sucked it up with turkey baster and dumped it. Then took out the clam, placed into a bowel (luckily it didn't squirt that much) and did a coating of the super glue at the two spots. Hopefully no more will pop up.