Feather Dusters

RufRidn · #1 03/07/2005, 02:29 PM

I made a post about this and cant find it, but I have a feather duster problem in my tank. Its spreading like a weed. Is there any invert that will eat them? I tried pulling the rocks out but they are on the bottom of the formations so i have to tear it down if thats the only option. Heres a pic.

Japheth · #2 03/07/2005, 02:35 PM

copperband butterflies will eat them. but the copperband is not known as a fish that will live well in captivity, some people have done it with great success but those are few and far between

kal2310 · #3 03/07/2005, 02:44 PM

Im sorry I dont have a solution for you, but I think they look kinda cool....

Japheth · #4 03/07/2005, 02:55 PM

why are you wanting to get rid of them anyway?

jhunko · #5 03/07/2005, 03:01 PM

mine did that too, most of them will starve and die. Then only the strong will survive. Also, check your calcium, if you don't have a lot of SPS using it up, then the feathers will use it to make there tubes. No calcium=no tube=no new dusters. HTH

Kevomac · #6 03/07/2005, 03:11 PM

I wish I had your problems....

Absint Reefer · #7 03/07/2005, 04:14 PM

frag them

thepudge · #8 03/07/2005, 04:44 PM

My peppermint shrimp at ALL my little dusters. It leaves the big ones alone but i used to have a ton of little ones and it took them out along with the aiptasia

CrystalAZ · #9 03/07/2005, 04:47 PM

I have hundreds in my tank and I love them.

But if you must get rid of them, you can gently pry them off the rock and share / trade them. Other reefers LOVE them and your LFS may even take them.

Anything you get that will eat them will also eat many of the other beneficial scavengers in your tank...

Crystal

RufRidn · #10 03/07/2005, 05:48 PM

The main reason I want to get rid of them is because they are growing wild and covering corals. They wrap around zoo's and are bothering my hammer.

db1 · #11 03/07/2005, 08:11 PM

that is cool i love feather dusters
I'am hope it happens in my 92gal.
I had the same problem in a 75gal. tank I just wanted to thin them out just a little
but a copperband butterfly will do the job
1-2 day there won't be a duster in the tank
my mistake

reefworks · #12 03/08/2005, 01:50 AM

If you leave them alone, they will start to thin out and the strong ones will get bigger. I have some in my tank growing in the sand bed that are almost 3" tall and have a 1 1/2" crown. They are somewhat interesting. They have to be food for something though.

phishphreak1988 · #13 03/08/2005, 02:35 AM

i wish i had your "problem"

peps eat featherdusters. tahnsk for the warning ai was going to buy onne! already this site has helped me how cool

CrystalAZ · #14 03/08/2005, 02:42 AM

I have 4 pepps and they don't touch the dusters.

However, I gave some dusters to a fellow reefer and his pepps ate them.

So it is one of those "maybe" situations.

Crystal

InsaneClownFish · #15 03/08/2005, 04:03 AM

Wow. First off, there has to be high nutrient levels in the water to support that kind of growth. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but killing them all off at once might not necessarily be a good thing either.

Generally, an abundance of filter feeders are a good thing.

According to Dr. Ron, hermit crabs are opportunistic eaters and will often decimate feather dusters.

There's definately "opportunity" in your tank...

Gawain1974 · #16 03/08/2005, 04:15 AM

My hermits leave my feather dusters alone. If I were you, I'd peel away the ones threatening your zoos and hammer, and let nature run its course and "thin the numbers."

TheBimbo · #17 03/08/2005, 07:09 AM

Would A borrowed or a bought sea urchin do the trick for you??? I know the pink one that I had took care of the leftover straggling hair algae that I we had... It wasn't feather dusters though, but try what CrystalAZ said, pull them off of the rock, or go to your lfs, and see if they would want to maybe work something out... you could see if they will trade you some rock or something... Good Luck!!!

TheBimbo