Marine Aquarium Pests

We do everything we can to reduce and minimise the risk of pests entering the system, but sometimes things can still make their way into the aquarium.

As a general precaution, if something appears in your aquarium that you didn’t intentionally purchase or introduce, it’s a good idea to identify it and do some research before deciding to leave it in the system.

Some organisms can be harmless or even beneficial, while others can spread quickly and become difficult to manage.

Common pests we sometimes see include:

• aptasia
• nudibranchs
• unexpected snails
  

Aptasia are a type of glass anemone.

They might not look too concerning at first, but they can multiply quickly and become difficult to control.

If you find aptasia early:

• remove the affected rock if possible
• scrape it off outside of the aquarium
• dispose of it thoroughly
  

Avoid scraping them inside the tank because this can sometimes encourage them to spread.

There are also treatment products available that can help control them.

Another natural option is peppermint shrimp.

Our sustainably aquacultured peppermint shrimp have been known to feed on aptasia and can be a helpful part of your clean-up crew.

Another pest we occasionally see is nudibranchs.

These can be bright white and look beautiful, but some species have been known to feed on corals such as:

• sinularia
• xenia

If you identify coral-eating nudibranchs, we recommend removing them from the aquarium.

You may also notice snails appearing from time to time.

Snails with shells are often beneficial because they help eat algae, but as a precaution we still recommend identifying anything unexpected before leaving it in the system.

Some organisms, including worms, can actually be beneficial.

Polychaete worms and bristle worms may help support the ecosystem, so do a bit of research before removing them.

As a general rule:

• identify first
• research before acting
• remove known pests early
  

A little caution early can help keep your aquarium healthy and balanced over time.

Thanks for watching.