Aiptasia Anemone

Aiptasia sp.

Deep Dive

Species data

🪼 Aiptasia Anemone (Global)
Scientific Name: Aiptasia sp.
Common Name: Glass Anemone, Pest Anemone
Size: ~0.5 to 2 inches (can stretch larger)
Reef Safe: ❌ No
Temperament: Invasive, aggressive stinger
Diet: Carnivorous – filters nutrients, feeds on food particles and detritus
Tank Role: Unwanted pest – harms corals and spreads rapidly

Description

🔍 Description:
Aiptasia are invasive pest anemones that often hitchhike into reef tanks on live rock, coral plugs, or frag rubble. While they may look like small, translucent anemones, they quickly become a serious threat by stinging corals, competing for space, and reproducing at high speed.

Aiptasia can multiply through fragmentation and laceration, meaning attempts to manually remove them often cause them to spread. They retreat deep into rockwork and are unaffected by standard clean-up crew members, making them one of the most frustrating reef pests to eliminate.

Why it Appears

✅ Why You Must Address Aiptasia Quickly:

Coral Killer: Damages or kills nearby corals via chemical and physical attacks

Rapid Spread: One anemone can become dozens in weeks

Difficult to Eliminate: Manual removal often makes the problem worse

Hard to Spot Early: Hides in rock crevices and under coral bases

Best Predator

🧽 Best Used Treatment:

Berghia Nudibranchs – natural predator, 100% reef safe

Peppermint Shrimp (Lysmata wurdemanni) – conditional success

Chemical solutions – temporary but can cause collateral damage

Manual control – risky and rarely effective long-term

Notes

⚠️ Notes for Success:

Identify Early: A single Aiptasia should be treated immediately

Avoid Overfeeding: Nutrient buildup supports their spread

Protect Berghia: Keep away from wrasses and large shrimp

Don’t Rip or Scrape: Fragmentation = more Aiptasia

Pro tip

An excess of Aiptasia once killed off by Berghia will release toxins; running carbon will help.