The Berghia Nudibranch (Berghia verrucicornis) is a natural and highly effective solution for controlling Aiptasia anemones in saltwater aquariums. Known for its voracious appetite for these pests, it is a popular choice for reef tank keepers dealing with heavy Aiptasia infestations. Unlike other popular aiptasia predators available in the hobby, berghia are obligate aiptasia eaters, meaning they ONLY eat aiptasia.
Description:
• Common Name: Berghia Nudibranch
• Scientific Name: Berghia verrucicornis
• Family: Aeolididae
• Size: Up to 1.5 inches (4 cm)
• Coloration: White to cream body with white and yellow highlights; often features tan cerata (appendages) on the back
Introducing Your Berghia:
The most critical step to success with berghias is their introduction. Berghias are highly delicate animals, and are very sensitive to swings in temperature and salinity. Upon receiving your berghia, float the container in your tank water until the water temperature matches that of your tank. You should then perform a roughly 30 minute drip acclimation.
Now that the berghia are acclimated to your tank conditions, give your fish a good feeding, then turn off the tank lights and power heads, and wait for your fish to settle down. Look over your rockwork, and find a crevice where your berghia can hide. Using the provided pipette, blow the berghia off on by one from the surface they're on, then suck them into the pipette, and squirt them all into the same crevice. It is essential that they are introduced near each other, as they need to be able to find each other to hunt and breed to form a colony.
Additional Tips:
• Berghia are hermaphroditic, meaning they don't have genders, and can breed with any other individual. However, it's best to introduce them in groups of at least 10 to ensure the colony gets established.
• Berghia are nocturnal, and will only come out well after your tank lights go out and predatory wrasses have gone to sleep.
• Berghia colonies grow exponentially. Their population will increase VERY slowly at first, and you may not see them, or any evidence that they're doing anything for 2-3 months. Usually around the 3 month period, their population begins exploding, and you'll see visible aiptasia reduction every day.
• Once all the aiptasia have been eliminated, the berghia will eventually starve and die.
