Feather Dusters and Emerald Crabs

[dntx5b9]

I have a 36G tank that has been running for a couple of years. I have 2 clowns, 1 firefish, 1 scooter blenny, 3 shrimp, a dozen snails, hermit crabs, and few soft corals (Zoas, mushrooms, and others). I had few snails die on me, but no deaths for the last several months. However, I can't seem to keep feather dusters and emeral crabs longer than a month or so. I only test my water for nitrates (less than 5 ppm) and ph (~8.0). Temp is 76 ~ 78F. I do about 4 gallon water changes every week.

Without having to test for other things in the water, does anyone have any idea why this is happening? They may be starving? What do you feed feather dusters and emeral crab? Any comments would be appreciated.

[kaihonu82]

feather dusters filter feed, right? someone correct me if i'm wrong

emerald crabs are very opportunistic feeders, they'll eat most anything. i know they help rid tanks of bubble algae but if you don't have much of that maybe there just isn't enough food. and since they're pretty nocturnal it's hard to "target" feed them..haha

[rafa316]

Yep feather dusters are filter feeders

[DrBegalke]

Not sure, but I would test your ca/alk.

[spike78]

What is your specific gravity?

[steri]

Dusters are worms, so I would be curious as to whether or not you have any other worms living in your tank (tube worms, bristle worms, ect). Usually they come as hitchikers on your LR. You say your tank has been up for 2 years, so I assume you know what they are. If the answer to that question is no, I would wonder why. If you can't get any worms to live in your tank, even unwanted worms (like flatworms; not that anyone wants those), I would think that something is off in your tank numbers wise.

If you do have other worms living in your tank, I would wonder how you acclimate them when you put the dusters in your tank? Maybe the salinity levels are too different. Hard to say exactly. Usually dusters are pretty hearty.