Reef Pests and Their Ramifications (Part 2)

In part one of my reef pests article, I explored the gastropods and how most of them, are carnivorous and opportunistic in nature, hence they don't make a welcome or suitable addition to a reef aquarium. If you do decide to give some of these a try, constant watching for potential negative effects carrying out is essential. Yes, Turbo's, Astrea's, Trocea's, Cerith's, Nassarius', certain Conchs, stomatella and vermatid snails can be a great way of incorporating some of the more interesting and beneficial gastropods into your diverse and beautiful marine aquarium.

I will now explore two different species of marine animals that can disrupt the overall chemistry and balance of a reef aquarium while injuring or killing fish, corals and anything else they may come in contact with. These pests, which are normally inevitable in a marine environment, are bad news and the question surrounding the marine aquarium hobby is not whether you will get them or not, but when! Aiptasia and Mojano anemones are what I am talking about, and for anyone who has been in the marine hobby for any period of time, knows just how detrimental these nuisance anemones can become.

The Mojano and Aiptasia anemones are classified in the Phylum Cnidaria, along with corals, jellyfish, hydras and the anemones. The anemones are members of the class anthozoa, however, similar to the beautiful Long Tentacle, Condylactis, Carpet, Magnificent and Bubble Tip anemones. The main difference between the aiptasia and majano anemone and the other species of anemone is that the aiptasia and majano should not be introduced to a marine environment! These flowering animals contain a single sessile polyp with upright oral cavities. These anemones consist of stinging mechanisms or harpoons called nematocysts(cnidocytes) on their surrounding tentacles located on their oral discs with a mouth in the center of the disc.