Tubeworms

[jjboods]

I have a 75 gallon with 2 clowns, a chromis, a couple soft corals, some shrooms and some rics. And much too much Xenia. I also have what is becoming way too many tubeworms. Is there a fish thatwill eat the tubeworms but not bother everything else...except maybe some of the Xenia. Thanks.

 

[jeanheckle]

Originally Posted by jjboods
http:///forum/post/2802256
I have a 75 gallon with 2 clowns, a chromis, a couple soft corals, some shrooms and some rics. And much too much Xenia. I also have what is becoming way too many tubeworms. Is there a fish thatwill eat the tubeworms but not bother everything else...except maybe some of the Xenia. Thanks.
I don't know about fish but sometimes Coral Banded Shrimp go after tube worms/

 

[jamesvishiou]

I think you should go with a Copperband Butterfly.
They will tear up the tubeworms. It may trim up the Xenia.

 

[fatcat]

Tubeworm population grow with nutrients.
The more nutrients in the water the more tubeworms.
Try cutting back on feedings.

 

[jjboods]

I actually don't feed the tank very heavily at all. Every other day or two sometimes. CBB would be nice, but don't they have a high mortality rate?

 

[calaxa]

Originally Posted by jjboods
http:///forum/post/2802896
I actually don't feed the tank very heavily at all. Every other day or two sometimes. CBB would be nice, but don't they have a high mortality rate?
CBB will decimate your tubeworm population along with any aipstasia. Then they usually starve themselves and die. If you are lucky, you can look for a specimen that is eating mysis or bloodworm at the LFS but that is rare.
Many other fish will nip at tubeworms. Pep shrimp might take to them as well. The only problem is anything that really eats tubeworms also will nibble on coral.

 

[fatcat]

Originally Posted by jjboods
http:///forum/post/2802896
I actually don't feed the tank very heavily at all. Every other day or two sometimes. CBB would be nice, but don't they have a high mortality rate?
Do you have a protein skimmer?

 

[luv4jc123]

I am pretty sure that I had a cleaner shrimp that cut the tail off of my only tubeworm, plus they're fun to watch

 

[jjboods]

I'm not running a skimmer. I don't know that it's that necessary with only 3 fish in a 75 gallon tank and no LPS or SPS.

 

[fatcat]

Ya thats not much load.
Try weekly water changes for awhile and see if that helps.