When crabs attack-- Ailing Hawaiian festher duster

[hillaryworks]

Hi, everybody. I’m excited about joining this community because my friends are already getting tired of hearing about my aquarium… and I’ve only had it for a few weeks!

So far things in my tank are going swimmingly (sorry!), with the exception of my Hawaiian feather duster. He won’t show his crown much and I think that his tube has been damaged. There are places on it where something tubular and milky-white is showing… is that the worm itself?

I suspect that my hermit crabs have hurt the feather duster. I adore the feather duster and I’m committed to keeping him happy and healthy. If that means getting rid of the crabs then I certainly will… but what other options do I have for the clean-up crew? Can snails alone do the job? Alternatively, can I keep the crabs and try to provide them with another, more tempting food source—seaweed, maybe?

I’m not completely sure what kind of hermit crabs I have because I bought a package of assorted snails and crabs without asking much about compatibility—that was irresponsible, I think. I’ll definitely question the fish store people in future, and not just assume they always know what’s best! After looking online, I’m pretty sure I have dwarf blue hermit crabs and dwarf zebra hermit crabs. Are they known to nip at feather dusters?

Also, the feather duster is currently half buried in the (live) sand bed. Would he be better off on the rocks?

Thank you so much in advance!

[Twitterbait]

Welcome to the family. a picture would really help. it sounds like the feather duster may be building a longer tube. they do do better when the tube is protected in the rock but we need a picture first.

how long has the tank been set-up and running? how long was your cycle?

[hillaryworks]

Thanks for responding!

I've attached a picture... see down by the sand (and at the top curve) how there's a tube showing through the "skin"? Is that the worm, and is it serious?

The tank (a twelve gallon Nano Cube) has been running for about six weeks and I've been stocking it slowly over the last three weeks. I started with fully cured live rock, so the ammonia and nitrite levels dropped to zero almost immediately and have stayed there.

The tank's other residents are a six line wrasse, a cleaner shrimp, a yellow watchman goby, and a few assorted coral frags.

Thanks again!

[Twitterbait]

no problem. by the looks of the picture that is just the tube of the worm, not the worm itself. i would gently work the loose portion off and clip the tube clean. you may also want to work the base of the tube under the hollow of a rock instead of burying it in the sand.

another thing to note... the tank is way too small for the six line and the goby will eventually get too big as well. you may look into changing the fish out.

[hillaryworks]

That's a relief, thanks very much.

I'll reconsider this fish. I'm thinking of getting a bigger tank anyway... the Nano Cube sits on my desk at work, but I think I need a home tank too!

[ChrisPrusha]

Welcome to TRT!!

I don't think the hermits will bother your feather duster unless it is dying or dead.

One word of warning about a work tank...find out if they spray for bugs!

Finally, I think a 180g would be a perfect size for your first home aquarium!