Dear hero:
Yes, sir, you are quite correct — the section of the article that you quoted was discussing compatible tankmates for dwarf seahorses (Hippocampus zosterae) and I did indeed list the Feather Dusters as suitable companions for the pint-size pigmy ponies. They Feather Dusters are fancy filter feeders that would do well under the same conditions that are suitable for dwarf seahorses.
You are equally astute in deducing that the Feather Dusters or tubeworms would not survive in a tank that was dosed with fenbendazole (brand name Panacur). The fenbendazole is an anthelmintic or deworming agent used on large animals such as horses at it is death to worms of all kinds, including the feather duster tubeworms.
Dwarf seahorse keepers must therefore choose between keeping Feather Dusters in the tank with their miniature marvels or dosing the tank with fenbendazole to prevent hydroids and Aiptasia rock anemones from gaining a foothold. In my experience, that’s a no-brainer — I would exercise the Panacur option to protect my dwarf ponies from stinging animals such as hydroids and anemones and do without the live corals and feather dusters and other organisms that are sensitive to the medication.
Best of luck with your ongoing research, hero! Keep reasoning things out, sir — you’re doing fine and you will eventually work out the type of dwarf seahorse tank that’s best suited for your needs and interests.
Respectfully,
Pete Giwojna
Ocean Rider, Inc. is an Organic Hawaiian-Based Seahorse Aqua-Farm & Aquarium that Follows Strict Good Farming Practices in Raising Seahorses and Other Aquatic Life.
