SeafanEmergencies

Pest anemone

Aiptasia

Exaiptasia diaphana

Also sold as Glass anemone (pest)

Pest

Aiptasia (Exaiptasia diaphana)
Photo: anbalemans, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Type
Pest anemone
Care level
Pest
With neighbours
Stings neighbours

What is aiptasia?

Growth

Fast, by fragments

Which neighbours are safe?

Stings corals

Fish

Fish known to nip this group of corals, or small enough to be caught by it.

None of the fish in this guide is known to nip it.

Other corals

This coral stings. Give these neighbours space.

Take care (45)

  • ZoanthidsAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the zoanthids out of reach.
  • PalythoaAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the palythoa out of reach.
  • Mushroom coralAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the mushroom coral out of reach.
  • Hairy mushroomAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the hairy mushroom out of reach.
  • Florida ricordeaAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the florida ricordea out of reach.
  • Yuma ricordeaAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the yuma ricordea out of reach.
  • Toadstool leatherAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the toadstool leather out of reach.
  • Finger leatherAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the finger leather out of reach.
  • XeniaAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the xenia out of reach.
  • Pulsing xeniaAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the pulsing xenia out of reach.
  • Waving hand coralAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the waving hand coral out of reach.
  • Green star polypsAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the green star polyps out of reach.
  • Clove polypsAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the clove polyps out of reach.
  • Kenya treeAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the kenya tree out of reach.
  • Hammer coralAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the hammer coral out of reach. Hammer coral stings neighbours up to about 15 cm away at night; keep the aiptasia out of reach.
  • Frogspawn coralAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the frogspawn coral out of reach. Frogspawn coral stings neighbours; keep the aiptasia out of reach.
  • Torch coralAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the torch coral out of reach. Torch coral stings neighbours; keep the aiptasia out of reach.
  • Duncan coralAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the duncan coral out of reach.
  • AcanAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the acan out of reach.
  • FaviaAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the favia out of reach.
  • FavitesAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the favites out of reach.
  • Chalice coralAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the chalice coral out of reach.
  • BlastomussaAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the blastomussa out of reach.
  • Candy cane coralAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the candy cane coral out of reach.
  • Bubble coralAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the bubble coral out of reach.
  • GonioporaAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the goniopora out of reach.
  • AlveoporaAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the alveopora out of reach.
  • Open brain coralAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the open brain coral out of reach.
  • LoboAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the lobo out of reach.
  • GalaxeaAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the galaxea out of reach. Galaxea stings neighbours up to about 15 cm away at night; keep the aiptasia out of reach.
  • Scroll coralAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the scroll coral out of reach.
  • Montipora capricornisAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the montipora capricornis out of reach.
  • Montipora digitataAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the montipora digitata out of reach.
  • AcroporaAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the acropora out of reach.
  • Acropora milleporaAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the acropora millepora out of reach.
  • PocilloporaAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the pocillopora out of reach.
  • StylophoraAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the stylophora out of reach.
  • Birdsnest coralAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the birdsnest coral out of reach.
  • Horn coralAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the horn coral out of reach. Horn coral stings neighbours; keep the aiptasia out of reach.
  • Fire coral (not Acropora millepora)Aiptasia stings neighbours; keep the fire coral (not Acropora millepora) out of reach. Fire coral (not Acropora millepora) stings neighbours; keep the aiptasia out of reach.
  • Bubble tip anemoneAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the bubble tip anemone out of reach. Bubble tip anemone stings neighbours; keep the aiptasia out of reach.
  • Rock flower anemoneAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the rock flower anemone out of reach.
  • Mini maxiAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the mini maxi out of reach. Mini maxi stings neighbours; keep the aiptasia out of reach.
  • Carpet anemones (Haddon's, giant)Aiptasia stings neighbours; keep the carpet anemones (Haddon's, giant) out of reach. Carpet anemones (Haddon's, giant) stings neighbours; keep the aiptasia out of reach.
  • Ritteri anemoneAiptasia stings neighbours; keep the ritteri anemone out of reach. Ritteri anemone stings neighbours; keep the aiptasia out of reach.

Invertebrates

Invertebrates that may nip corals when hungry.

None known.

These checks follow the reasons fish and invertebrates clash: same species or genus, similar shape, mouth size, temperament, food, burrows, tank size and the order they are added. Individual animals differ; every source agrees on that.

How do you control it?

It is the pest. Controls: Berghia nudibranchs (eat only aiptasia and starve once it is gone), peppermint shrimp (some individuals ignore it)

Inspect rock and frag plugs; remove plugs on new frags where practical

Sources

  1. Top Shelf Aquatics Berghia guideRead 21 October 2026, search summary only.
  2. Practical Fishkeeping (UK), essential cleaners for the reef tank (date not shown)Read 21 October 2026, read in full.
  3. BRS/Marine Depot Coral RX and quarantine, updated 27 Oct 2021Read 21 October 2026, read in full.

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