Cluster Duster Vanishing Act

[Cathic]

Cluster Duster has completely vanished, only a few traces left of them. Not sure who the culprit is, but they were just starting to recover and grow well. The Pencil Urchin is close to their location but he would have done in it in < 4 hours. The whole colony is gone.

Tank stock:

Shortspine Urchin
Pencil Urchin
Clarkii Clown
Yellow Tang
Firefin Goby
4 Peppermints
1 Sand Sifting
1 Camel

 

[Bifferwine]

Camel shrimp would be my guess. They are not reef safe.

 

[Smitty]

+1 Biff...I'd say the camel also.

 

[Cathic]

1 camel knocked out 12 dusters?

 

[Bifferwine]

If that's what he's been eating, then yeah. It could be your water quality too -- they are filter feeders.

 

[Cathic]

they all vanished at one time. entire colony last night, no colony this morning. Nothing left, no tubes, no crowns, no bonding spot. All gone.

 

[dcantucson]

That's one hungry Camel shrimp, to do that much damage in one night. :dunno: Seems suspect.

 

[Cathic]

That is what I was thinking...

 

[yote]

Camal shrimp can go through stuff like that pretty dang quick.
But there could be predatory worms in the rock too.

 

[reeffreak]

It could be both peppermint and camel shrimps.