Small feather dusters taking over!

[RobynT]

I seem to have a problem with my small feather dusters taking over a few areas of my tank. When I first noticed the small feather dusters (over a year ago) I thought "cool!" Now that they are so prolific and finding their way all over my tank I'm not so happy to have them. I also have a few regular large sized feather dusters so I would be reluctant to get a fish that eats them. Any ideas?? I also have a very growing population of asterina stars (I once thought they were cool too!)
Be careful for what you wish for.....

 

[JetCat USA]

blast them with a power head and they'll blow off the rocks, they'll spread around the tank, but then you just blast them again, they've pretty much taken over my entire 180 FOWLR tank.

 

[RobynT]

Not good news..........

 

[JetCat USA]

they are excellent filter feeders and proliferation is an indication of excessive nutrients, cut back on the nutrients and they'll self regulate to an extent.

 

[badbrady06]

throw a copperband butterfly in they usually only eat the small fd

 

[Jeremy Blaze]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10598434#post10598434 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JetCat USA
they are excellent filter feeders and proliferation is an indication of excessive nutrients, cut back on the nutrients and they'll self regulate to an extent.

What he said.


This is true for many of the "pests".

 

[KUDA]

Get a peppermint shrimp or two.

 

[RobynT]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10626439#post10626439 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by badbrady06
throw a copperband butterfly in they usually only eat the small fd

I didn't think that they were reef safe?

 

[Jeremy Blaze]

Copperbands are generally reef safe, however they have a very poor survival record in captivity and should not be recommended, esp. as a utility fish to help with a problem.

They rarely feed on offered foods in captivity. They often will eat feather dusters or aptasia, but most can not make the transition to prepared foods once this source is exhausted.

As far as reef safe, it depends on your definition. AS stated it will eat tube worms, aptasia, so it would be inclined to feed on other fleashy coral as well, although this does not happen a lot.

This being said, I have one that has been in my tank for 4 years. It eats mysis shrimp, so soemtimes you can get one that survives.

If you really like this fish, and are willing to give it the care it needs, it may be worth trying.

If you are just looking for something to get rid of feather dusters or aptasia, I would not get one.

I have seen greater sucess with them in larger tanks as well. I would not put one in a tank smaller than 125.

 

[RobynT]

Thanks Jeremy for a very thorough answer to my question. I really wasn't considering a CBB but now I know more than I did!

As far as the mini feather dusters........they started on one rock that is located near a sidewall and under a power head. I imagine that uneaten food has settled there and has made for an optimum breeding ground for these little guys. At first I thought "cool" and was happy about them. Now I see them in most areas of my tank in small numbers but they breed or grow like crazy so I am concerned and would like to be proactive at this stage if it is possible. I only feed once a day, and the food is gone completely within 3 or 4 minutes so I don't feel that I overly feed but I guess that is pretty subjective on my part. These dusters are "winners" when it comes to real estate occupied by zoa's so hard telling how I will deal with them if they keep growing at this rate. They are kind of pretty but I don't want a tank full of them!

 

[rhdhighness]

would anyone like to part with some dusters

would anyone like to part with some dusters

I would love to have some...

 

[black_majik]

Pop them all off, send them to my address and lower nutrients levels

 

[black_majik]

That is truly the only
way to go

 

[RobynT]

I don't think you understand how small these are and how prolific. These little dusters are about the same size as green star polyps and brittle. Also if you have very low nutrients in your tank then they would have nothing to eat.
I have many inverts in my tank and they do quite well (knock on wood.) When I feed I am not only feeding my fish, but hoping that my shrimp (two cleaner, two fire and one pepp) are finding some food too as well as my serpent star. I only put in enough food, once a day, that is eaten within about three minutes. I would rather deal with the little dusters than think that my critters are getting enough to eat. All in all, I think I have a very happy tank!!

 

[Tayler]

mine seemed to do the opposite, when i first added my live rock i had lots and now i only seem to have a handfull