Barnacle ?

[herring_fish]

Has anyone had any success with Barnacles of any kind?

They are very interesting to watch as they actively sweep the water for food, providing motion like pumping xenias. If food is what they are after, it seems that a NPS tank would be able to keep them.

Unfortunately, I heard of one person that couldn't keep them even with good feeding. Another person said that they took over the tank like weeds but judging by the description, I question if they were really barnacles. They more likely many have been feather dusters. I have also heard of one person keeping a single hitchhiking Purple Barnacle alive.

Has anyone tried a colony?

 

[GreshamH]

I've kept them as hitchhikers for years. The ones I have had have iridescent "sweepers" (no idea what that appendage is called :lol: ) When I was importing corals, I'd see a few every shipment so they are not all that rare.

Public Aquariums have them on display in closed systems as well.

 

[GreshamH]

sadly I have not had any for a few years since, well, two tank moves ago

 

[herring_fish]

I would like to buy...say....a couple of square feet of them. I have a dump bucket so I would/will put them near the turbulence of the down flow and feed them well.