Featherduster invasion

[CoralReefer2110]

So I've got a bit of a catch-22. Feather dusters are taking over my SPS tank. While pretty, in small numbers, they are now becoming a pain in the rear. I would love to get rid of them and am willing to introduce something that eats them. However, I have a wonderful (and long-fought for) balance with all my fish and it's a 10 foot long tank so when something goes in, it's not coming out.

Anybody out there know of any (reef safe of course) fish that will eat feather dusters but ultimately not turn on me and eat SPS? I would imagine something in the butterfly family would be the answer - perhaps a copperband - but thought I would check with the pros first.

Thanks all!

 

[geddavis]

If I where you I’d just cut them all off and sell them.

 

[Barrett]

I have heard of hawkfish eating feather dusters, I love my flame hawk

 

[CoralReefer2110]

Barrett,
Well, good news bad news I suppose. I’ve got a flame hawk and he eats absolutely everything in his way. Except those of course.... uggh.

As for cutting them/selling them I would happily give them away. They are very small though and like I said, getting to them all in my aquascape is really not feasible. 10 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet of rock work and coral leaves a lot of turf is rather let nature work it’s magic if I can....

 

[Barrett]

Barrett,
Well, good news bad news I suppose. I’ve got a flame hawk and he eats absolutely everything in his way. Except those of course.... uggh.

As for cutting them/selling them I would happily give them away. They are very small though and like I said, getting to them all in my aquascape is really not feasible. 10 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet of rock work and coral leaves a lot of turf is rather let nature work it’s magic if I can....

What about a Halichoeres Wrasse?

 

[Mariette]

Not speaking from experience but look into coral snow.

 

[suta4242]

I reckon a copper banded butterfly would find them tasty...

 

[erk]

Having such a large number of feather dusters would indicate you have a lot of suspended particulates in the water to feed the population. If you are feeding a small particle coral food, i.e. reef roids, stopping for awhile would help. Introducing a natural predator like a wrasse will also work.

 

[CoralReefer2110]

Thanks all. I do feed frozen food of a wide variety much of which breaks down into very small particles. I can certainly lay off for a while but it is definitely going to require a predator of some kind.
So far we've got votes for Copperbands and various wrasse species both of which are options.

Is there anything (like the chemicals that exist for eradicating aptasia and mojanos) that can be injected or targeted?