defigart Posted March 6, 2008 Share Posted March 6, 2008 Ok, I will admit it, I like them. I think they are kinda cute. But like many things that are cute, to many become less cute, and more of a pest. So what biological means can I use to cut down there population. If I estimate how many I have, I would say between 300 and 400. I would prefer a fish, but other biological means will be considered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted March 6, 2008 Share Posted March 6, 2008 What kind of tube worms? Little feather dusters? Vermetid snails? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
defigart Posted March 6, 2008 Author Share Posted March 6, 2008 I think they are little "feather dusters". They have a gooey "shell" that is flexible, seams organic, and not calcium based. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsoz Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 Copperband butterfly. It will decimate the population in about a week. dsoz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
defigart Posted March 7, 2008 Author Share Posted March 7, 2008 Will it leave other inverts and corals alone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reefin' Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 No clams definitely.... And I found out recently the hard way that they have a likin for sea lettuce nudibranchs.....some pick at stuff some dont .....I would use it for the job intended and then remove if worried it won't start to pick if it does until its out of worms to eat. They love aiptasia :-).... hth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
defigart Posted March 7, 2008 Author Share Posted March 7, 2008 I would use it for the job intended and then remove if worried it won't start to pick if it does until its out of worms to eat. They love aiptasia :-).... hth Easier said then done, when there is 200+ pounds of Liverock for him to hide in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePremiumAquarium Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 Doran, I have a racoon faced butterfly that wiped out my little feather pests in about 2 days flat. Believe me I had thousands. The only bad part is that now he is also wiping out all mushrooms, zoas, and lps in my tank!!! I have never heard of this problem, and I may have just a little meany on my hands but be careful. Now I cant get the bastard out of the tank! Garrett Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
defigart Posted March 8, 2008 Author Share Posted March 8, 2008 Thats my fear. I have seen CB Butterfly's in reef tanks, but I want to be cautious. It would almost be worth giving him away after he ate most of the feather dusters. But I would have to catch him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reefin' Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 I don't know how much coral u have in there, but u might consider pulling out a couple of rocks at a time . And have the copperband pick the rocks clean in a different tank set up for it.....just and idea... That's what I do with my aiptasia in my clowfish/ anemone tanks .. I pull out rock and plants and place in fowlr tank where mr.copperband's Cleanin service reside....... Then return rocks. ......outsourcing :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
defigart Posted March 9, 2008 Author Share Posted March 9, 2008 Ok, well I bought a Copperband today. He immediately decided that Blue Xenia was his favorite food. I removed that from the tank, and now he is attempting to eat the feather dusters, but hasn't quite figured out how to catch them before they go into there hole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsoz Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 He immediately decided that Blue Xenia was his favorite food. Rule of thumb, the most sought after food item is the one that cost you the most money. Remember the lesson of the elegance coral. dsoz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
defigart Posted March 16, 2008 Author Share Posted March 16, 2008 Well the Copperband has finally figured out how to get the tubeworms. He is doing his best to eradicate them, but it is slow going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishiefish Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 hows it going? is it still working out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
defigart Posted March 28, 2008 Author Share Posted March 28, 2008 Guess it is time for an update. The Copperband ate all the worms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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