Tube Worms/Feather Dusters

[TheRealChrisBrown]

I have an outbreak of Tube Worms or Feather Dusters (not sure what to call them) in my display. I have tried manual removal and can get a lot out, but they come back fairly quickly. They originated in my sump and I was ok with them there, then they migrated upstairs to the display. To do a more thorough manual removal I'd need to take apart my rock work and disturb corals. So after manual removal does anybody have any suggestions? Would a Copper Banded Butterfly or an Aiptasia Filefish go after them?

 

[flyfish]

I had a dottyback that cleaned mine out,even the ornamental one.Be careful if you have peppermint shrimp cause she ate them as well.She ate pretty well for about a week.I wish I would have studied up on those fish before I bought one

 

[TheRealChrisBrown]

Will Peppermint Shrimp eat the tube worms?

 

[aquarius]

Green and yellow coris wrasses will eat feather desserts as well.

 

[SynDen]

why remove them? they are kick ass filter feeders and don't harm anything, so why do you want to get rid of them? but yes, many wrasses will eat them

 

[TheRealChrisBrown]

why remove them? they are kick *** filter feeders and don't harm anything, so why do you want to get rid of them? but yes, many wrasses will eat them

I agree they are awesome filter feeders, but I don't like them in my display. Don't mind them in the sump at all. They are just starting to go crazy in the display.

 

[katyttt]

Copper Band Butterfly eat them as well but will also go after other feather dusters along with the wrasses.

 

[ReefCheif]

Copperband or any type of halichores wrasse will also eat them

 

[TheRealChrisBrown]

Copperband or any type of halichores wrasse will also eat them

I bought a Copperband and he immediately went after them....like with a vengeance. Same with the smaller aiptasia in my tank.

 

[johanliam]

I learned a lot from this thread,might give you a few more insghts too. https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/index.php?threads/do-peppermint-shrimp-eat-tube-worms.55263/
_________________________________________
Exterminator Washington DC

 

[JZinCO]

Mine (pep shrimp) don't touch tube worms. Not sure if pep shrimp are ever worth the gamble. I've got two and they have been occasionally naughty but not terrible.

 

[Stickhead]

My tank was previously overrun by them. No adverse effects, I think they actually help with the biological filter a lot. I could never find a solid way to get rid of them either though. following along