Coco Worm Trouble

SpateD · #1 03-22-2010, 05:32 AM

I have a coco worm that was doing awesome in my buddies 40 gallon tank that was about a month old, I brought it into my 10 gallon when I had the ammonia level in check, he did great for about 2 days.

While moving him out of the flow of the powerhead, the top of his shell cracked. Ever since then, he only came out once to check it out after it happened. Now he's been in the shell pretty much all day. He rarely comes out, and when he does he doesn't show all his ''fingers'' or ''feathers'' or whatever they are are usually all tucked up.

I'm worried he might be dying. Before I go spend money on chemicals to put in the water, just hoping for some ideas of what you guys think I should do?! I've checked my Ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates, and all seem to be 0 except the ammonia is like .05 maybe. He's only came out twice today.

whatcaneyedo · #2 03-22-2010, 02:36 PM

Try giving it to someone more experianced with a mature tank, preferably someone who feeds live phytoplankton. These worms require a lot of particulate organic matter and phytoplankton to survive in a closed system and will starve to death in a few months to a year without it.

fishytime · #3 03-22-2010, 03:01 PM

how new is your tank???? they really do better in a more mature system..... they are rather sensitive to water conditions.....if your tank is new, I would definitely recommend re-homing it to someone with a mature tank while your tank settles down

SpateD · #4 03-22-2010, 03:07 PM

My tank is over a month and a half old, and all levels seem to be in check. I was thinking of buying some of the phytoplankton liquid, but I want to know if theres something else to do before I spend a bunch of cash on things that won't work.

hillbillyreefer · #5 03-22-2010, 03:45 PM

A month and a half old is not an established tank. I made the same mistake when starting out too. Try and find someone who can take care of it while your tank matures a bit. Then bring it home and have another try. At the very least get some phyto and try it.

Good luck, and remember nothing good ever happens fast in this hobby.

SpateD · #6 03-22-2010, 03:59 PM

The only thing is, my friends tank, who it was thriving in for a week. His tank was only a month old. I have zoa's and mushrooms living in my tank who are thriving, and hermit crabs and a cleaner shrimp.

hillbillyreefer · #7 03-22-2010, 06:56 PM

Find out what your friend was doing different than you. Thriving for a week doesn`t mean success in this hobby. I`m not trying to be a dick, if I come across that way it is not intentional.

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/featherfdgfaqs.htm Check out this thread it`s long, and I didn`t read it all but you should get some good info from it.

How bad did the shell crack, is it possible that a piece of the shell is sharp and irritating the worm when he extends. Mine have also been known to get a bit grouchy when I move them and won`t extend alot until they acclimate to their new spot in the tank. They like lots of flow. You could try some phyto or other filter feeder foods in the tank, but they probably are not necessary. If you are going to try feeding use TINY amounts a 10 gal tank can go south on you very rapidly.

NuraNori · #8 03-22-2010, 07:51 PM

Geez Dustin I take total offense to you calling MY tank Craig's tank!

And my tank may only be set up for less than a month but I did set it up with mature cycled live rock. So I never had the ammonia issues you're having. I found that your worm didn't like too much flow actually. I had to turn off the powerhead for him to come out. Although I do have a closed loop so there is still lots of flow without the powerhead. I also soaked the mysis for the fish in Kent zoe amongst other things. It contains some spirulina, not sure about phyto. Since I wasn't directly feeding it with phyto I wouldn't say he was thriving, but he was surviving for the time being.

You're goby is doing well. Eating lots of mysis now as long as the mysis are going past his mouth! Gonna miss the little guy when it's time

SpateD · #9 03-22-2010, 10:04 PM

lol sorry Nora. I think the mushroom is also doing way better with the powerhead in my tank. He does a little flow as of right now. Not much, so if he doesn't pop out within a weeks time, I'll move him more onto the bottom to get the flow from the filter to see if that helps him.

When I first put him back in my tank, he had a lot of flow from the power head for 2 days and he was out quite a bit but was getting thrown around so thats why I decided to move him.

I need to find some mature live rock for sale. lol

It's good that he's eating well, I really hope to get him in like a week or two. I don't know how long until the ammonia is absolutely 0. It's realllly close though. I was also looking at a pistol shrimp Craig was talking about. Looks soooo cool. But I'm pretty sure it and a cleaner in a 10 gallon would be a fatal mix. lol

But I guess before I do anything drastic I'll leave him for a few days, see if he takes well to the rock he's on, and maybe it's the shell is sharp, but I don't know how to make it more dull for him. Any ideas for that HillBilly?

NuraNori · #10 03-22-2010, 10:13 PM

Or you know, you could just wait...

It wasn't my way of saying get mature rock, it was my way of saying, you can't compare the 2 systems! Oh and by the way, even if you were to put in cycled live rock, your old stuff is still cycling so it wouldn't really matter....

So WAIT!!!! Good things come to those who wait...