small featherdusters becoming a problem

Richard_Dicosimo · #1 10-07-2005, 02:36 AM

at first they where kinda cool, and now that i have about 300 million of them growing on my rock and corals they are more of a nusance. Anyone know of a creature i could put in my tank that i could find in calgary to eat them? i know pepermint shrimp will usually tear into them but i can never seem to find them in town, i even tryed ordering them from ocean aquatics and they told me that the pepermint shrimp where out of season now for about the next 6 months. any ideas at all would be appreciated. I suppose that there is always the alternative of manualy removing them but im not big on touching my corals if i dont have to.

Thanks Richard

Invigor · #2 10-07-2005, 02:43 AM

time for a butterfly! or just refuse that idea like I did and shrug off the unsightly featherdusters and just pretend they're a good thing to have. I have given up on trying to get rid of them. not even manual removal worked for me.

jws444 · #3 10-07-2005, 06:08 AM

I think a regular skunk cleaner would work too. Otherwise a wrasse would make short work of it as well, but getting a wrasse is more of a commitment. Possibly a pygmy angel like a flame or bi-colour would work. They scour and pick at live rock like wrasses do, but it maybe a bad thing to train them to nibble. Say goodbye to your softies. lol.

Funky_Fish14 · #4 10-07-2005, 06:09 AM

A skunk cleaner shrimp will not eat featherdusters.

An Arrow Crab should work.

Chris

SeaHorse_Fanatic · #5 10-07-2005, 06:31 AM

Send your LR to me & my Copperband will clean them for you

Scarfs them down like candy.

Anthony

Richard_Dicosimo · #6 10-07-2005, 02:16 PM

i actually have an arrow crab he doesnt realy do much other then pick at the rock and poke the fish with his legs. i think i might try a copperband butterfly. thanks for the input

Beverly · #7 10-07-2005, 02:52 PM

Richard,

Arrow crabs are notorious hunters and may be grabbing for your fish already

Also, a copperband grows to about 7".