- Kingdom: Animalia.
- Phylum: Cnidaria
- Class: Anthozoa /Order: Actinaria/Suborder: Nyantheae
- Family: Aiptasiidae
- Genus: Aiptasia
- Species: Aiptasia pallada and Aiptasia pichella
Description: The body is cylindrical, with a flat basal disc (foot); a pedal disc allows it to move. At the other end is the oral disc, with the mouth in the center and tentacles around it.
Reproduction: Asexually, through pedal laceration, producing a clone, or by means of sexual glands. They release eggs and sperm into open water (oviparous). They reproduce very quickly.
Habitat: Generally found in colonies originating from a single individual. They are mainly located in crevices.
Distribution: Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Red Sea, and Pacific. Color: Brown and/or semitransparent. They contain zooxanthellae.
Size: 2–3 cm Caution: Stinging. Diet: Small crustaceans and plankton.
Natural predators: Lysmata seticaudata, Lysmata wurdemanni, Chelmon Rostratus, Acrichthys tormentosus, and the nudibranch Berguia verrucicornis, from the family aolidiidae (success depends on the individual, but Berguia, for example, feed only on Aiptasia; Chelmon can provide support until it begins eating frozen and dry food).
Chemical treatments: Vinegar, Grotech Aipex, Joe’s Juice, a low-voltage electric Aiptasia eliminator, etc.
Prevention: Since they often arrive in crevices with corals and live rock, a quarantine aquarium helps you spot and eliminate them before they enter the main tank.
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