Feather Duster ?
- Thread starter mako1
- Start date
zanoshanox
Active Member
how long have you had it? Do you have any pictures?
mako1
Member
About 4-5 months. No pics this is my new computer and Dont have the cd to put the software on yet for my DC. 
PS he just got done getting a new crown up after he ditched the last one. Looked like there werre two growing out at one point. He was brown, now his new crown is white/brown.
PS he just got done getting a new crown up after he ditched the last one. Looked like there werre two growing out at one point. He was brown, now his new crown is white/brown.
msspfb
New Member
Bumping because I have this exact problem with my feather duster. Crown is beautiful but root is curling up and going limp about 2 inches from bottom, top of tube closer to crown is still hard. He is 3-4 months old and not sure what is going on or if this is normal. I also have a coco worm and his root is hard and he seems fine as well but hes much younger Ive only had him 2 weeks. Fish are happy and tank is in order as far as levels etc.. What happened to my feather duster?
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by MsSPFB http:///t/192799/feather-duster#post_3532016
Bumping because I have this exact problem with my feather duster. Crown is beautiful but root is curling up and going limp about 2 inches from bottom, top of tube closer to crown is still hard. He is 3-4 months old and not sure what is going on or if this is normal. I also have a coco worm and his root is hard and he seems fine as well but hes much younger Ive only had him 2 weeks. Fish are happy and tank is in order as far as levels etc.. What happened to my feather duster?
Hi folks...LOL, it is a fan worm and it doesn't have "roots" it isn't a plant. It's an invert. The feather crown is it's tongue, the worm hides in the shell to prevent fish and other critters from eating them...the worm is safe inside.
The bottom of the tube may look yucky, but as long as the worm has a nice crown it is happy...if the crown sheds and comes back smaller, it is because it is starving. Kent's invert food can be put in the water to feed them (it doesn't take much, and too much will also feed algae outbreaks) if they are not getting enough from your water column, over skimming can cause that. Also if/when you feed the tank, turn off the skimmer for the day.
Originally Posted by MsSPFB http:///t/192799/feather-duster#post_3532016
Bumping because I have this exact problem with my feather duster. Crown is beautiful but root is curling up and going limp about 2 inches from bottom, top of tube closer to crown is still hard. He is 3-4 months old and not sure what is going on or if this is normal. I also have a coco worm and his root is hard and he seems fine as well but hes much younger Ive only had him 2 weeks. Fish are happy and tank is in order as far as levels etc.. What happened to my feather duster?
Hi folks...LOL, it is a fan worm and it doesn't have "roots" it isn't a plant. It's an invert. The feather crown is it's tongue, the worm hides in the shell to prevent fish and other critters from eating them...the worm is safe inside.
The bottom of the tube may look yucky, but as long as the worm has a nice crown it is happy...if the crown sheds and comes back smaller, it is because it is starving. Kent's invert food can be put in the water to feed them (it doesn't take much, and too much will also feed algae outbreaks) if they are not getting enough from your water column, over skimming can cause that. Also if/when you feed the tank, turn off the skimmer for the day.
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by MsSPFB http:///t/192799/feather-duster#post_3532076
@flower, thanks for replying. Sorry for use of wrong terminology I'm still really new at this. His crown is big and beautiful I was just worried because the limpness and curling seemed to be spreading up towards the crown.
I figured as much, which is why I wrote LOL, it was still cute. I always called it the foot. While it is in a tube for now, later it will stick out a "sticky foot" to hold onto the rock. The funny thing is, I don't have the right "terminology" either. As long as we understand each other is all that's really important to me. I'm sure Snake of Bang Guy will pop in and explain things much better then I can.
If the tube is touching rock...at any point, it will get soft and the worm will attach itself to it...it takes it a long time to attach, sitting in the same spot undisturbed. I miss having a fan worm, maybe I will get me a couple....
Originally Posted by MsSPFB http:///t/192799/feather-duster#post_3532076
@flower, thanks for replying. Sorry for use of wrong terminology I'm still really new at this. His crown is big and beautiful I was just worried because the limpness and curling seemed to be spreading up towards the crown.
I figured as much, which is why I wrote LOL, it was still cute. I always called it the foot. While it is in a tube for now, later it will stick out a "sticky foot" to hold onto the rock. The funny thing is, I don't have the right "terminology" either. As long as we understand each other is all that's really important to me. I'm sure Snake of Bang Guy will pop in and explain things much better then I can.
If the tube is touching rock...at any point, it will get soft and the worm will attach itself to it...it takes it a long time to attach, sitting in the same spot undisturbed. I miss having a fan worm, maybe I will get me a couple....
mr llimpid
Member
Sorry to say we keep out tanks to clean to keep one these creatures alive for long. Like Flower says to turn off skimmer will help. I had one once and the same thing happen they are starving. The thought I had but never tried out was to get a clear jar taller than its fans and wider so it could open with out touching jar. Cover the feather with jar and squirt the food up into jar, hopefully duster will open and collect food. Just a thought, but since you have one you could give it a try.
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr LLimpid http:///t/192799/feather-duster#post_3532085
Sorry to say we keep out tanks to clean to keep one these creatures alive for long. Like Flower says to turn off skimmer will help. I had one once and the same thing happen they are starving. The thought I had but never tried out was to get a clear jar taller than its fans and wider so it could open with out touching jar. Cover the feather with jar and squirt the food up into jar, hopefully duster will open and collect food. Just a thought, but since you have one you could give it a try.
I don't think the jar trick will work, it does great for corals but a fan worm freaks out over any movement or shadow and draws in the crown. The invert food should be enough, just a cap full in the water according to instructions. When I first got into the hobby, we only used our skimmers about once for a few days each month. Now a days folks run them non-stop.
Originally Posted by Mr LLimpid http:///t/192799/feather-duster#post_3532085
Sorry to say we keep out tanks to clean to keep one these creatures alive for long. Like Flower says to turn off skimmer will help. I had one once and the same thing happen they are starving. The thought I had but never tried out was to get a clear jar taller than its fans and wider so it could open with out touching jar. Cover the feather with jar and squirt the food up into jar, hopefully duster will open and collect food. Just a thought, but since you have one you could give it a try.
I don't think the jar trick will work, it does great for corals but a fan worm freaks out over any movement or shadow and draws in the crown. The invert food should be enough, just a cap full in the water according to instructions. When I first got into the hobby, we only used our skimmers about once for a few days each month. Now a days folks run them non-stop.
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///t/192799/feather-duster#post_3532094
These worms build calcareous tubes right? What are calcium and magnesium levels like in your tank?
I think that would apply if you have the hard tube coco worm, but he regular feather dusters have a kind of leathery tube...Calcium testing wouldn't hurt to check it anyway, I'm not sure what magnesium does.
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///t/192799/feather-duster#post_3532094
These worms build calcareous tubes right? What are calcium and magnesium levels like in your tank?
I think that would apply if you have the hard tube coco worm, but he regular feather dusters have a kind of leathery tube...Calcium testing wouldn't hurt to check it anyway, I'm not sure what magnesium does.
2quills
Well-Known Member
Good point, Flower. I have the hard tube kind (coco). From what I understand it not sounds like it is a nutritional issue. I've been feeding phyto a few times a week and do try to leave some particulate matter floating around in the water column for a while on a nightly basis for all of the livestock.
Flower, magnesium plays a key roll in livestock and our own ability to properly absorb calcium in order to build stony mass.
Flower, magnesium plays a key roll in livestock and our own ability to properly absorb calcium in order to build stony mass.
msspfb
New Member
I tried a capful of the food this evening and both the feather and coco perked up substantially. The coco was stretched as far out from his tube as the crown could get and the feather had an even bigger display than normal. I'll check my calcium level though and make sure. Hopefully it's just a simple nutritional deficiency.
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///t/192799/feather-duster#post_3532104
Good point, Flower. I have the hard tube kind (coco). From what I understand it not sounds like it is a nutritional issue. I've been feeding phyto a few times a week and do try to leave some particulate matter floating around in the water column for a while on a nightly basis for all of the livestock.
Flower, magnesium plays a key roll in livestock and our own ability to properly absorb calcium in order to build stony mass.
AHHH...kind of what vitamin B does, it allows the food (in this case magnesium helps with calcium) to be absorbed. Thanks.
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///t/192799/feather-duster#post_3532104
Good point, Flower. I have the hard tube kind (coco). From what I understand it not sounds like it is a nutritional issue. I've been feeding phyto a few times a week and do try to leave some particulate matter floating around in the water column for a while on a nightly basis for all of the livestock.
Flower, magnesium plays a key roll in livestock and our own ability to properly absorb calcium in order to build stony mass.
AHHH...kind of what vitamin B does, it allows the food (in this case magnesium helps with calcium) to be absorbed. Thanks.
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by MsSPFB http:///t/192799/feather-duster#post_3532105
I tried a capful of the food this evening and both the feather and coco perked up substantially. The coco was stretched as far out from his tube as the crown could get and the feather had an even bigger display than normal. I'll check my calcium level though and make sure. Hopefully it's just a simple nutritional deficiency.
Originally Posted by MsSPFB http:///t/192799/feather-duster#post_3532105
I tried a capful of the food this evening and both the feather and coco perked up substantially. The coco was stretched as far out from his tube as the crown could get and the feather had an even bigger display than normal. I'll check my calcium level though and make sure. Hopefully it's just a simple nutritional deficiency.
msspfb
New Member
Just checking back to let you know my feather duster is coming back to life I've started adding seachem phyto plankton and fuel to my tank to add the nutrients and added food the worms need. The tube on my feather is becoming leathery and healthy again and my coco worm is really perked up and gorgeous. Thanks again guys for helping my tank is back on track.
I've started adding seachem phyto plankton and fuel to my tank to add the nutrients and added food the worms need. The tube on my feather is becoming leathery and healthy again and my coco worm is really perked up and gorgeous. Thanks again guys for helping my tank is back on track.
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by MsSPFB http:///t/192799/feather-duster#post_3532772
Just checking back to let you know my feather duster is coming back to life I've started adding seachem phyto plankton and fuel to my tank to add the nutrients and added food the worms need. The tube on my feather is becoming leathery and healthy again and my coco worm is really perked up and gorgeous. Thanks again guys for helping my tank is back on track.
Hi,
I'm delighted! It's a tight balance between keeping inverts fed, and not feeding the nuisance algae. So be careful to not overdo it.
This is where the skimmer has it's job. I always turned mine off for 24 hours to allow the filter feeders to get what they need (2Xs a week) and ran the skimmer the rest of the time. Removing organic waste is the skimmers job, and you are just wasting your food to run the skimmer after feeding. The skimmer will only pull out so much, then the extra is taken up by the filter feeders and algae.
I personally think most reefers over-skim. I know things change, and equipment gets better, but I used to only run my skimmer maybe once a week for 24 hours, nowadays folks run them 24/7. I also only added phyto plankton once a month, just a capful.
Originally Posted by MsSPFB http:///t/192799/feather-duster#post_3532772
Just checking back to let you know my feather duster is coming back to life
I've started adding seachem phyto plankton and fuel to my tank to add the nutrients and added food the worms need. The tube on my feather is becoming leathery and healthy again and my coco worm is really perked up and gorgeous. Thanks again guys for helping my tank is back on track.Hi,
I'm delighted! It's a tight balance between keeping inverts fed, and not feeding the nuisance algae. So be careful to not overdo it.
This is where the skimmer has it's job. I always turned mine off for 24 hours to allow the filter feeders to get what they need (2Xs a week) and ran the skimmer the rest of the time. Removing organic waste is the skimmers job, and you are just wasting your food to run the skimmer after feeding. The skimmer will only pull out so much, then the extra is taken up by the filter feeders and algae.
I personally think most reefers over-skim. I know things change, and equipment gets better, but I used to only run my skimmer maybe once a week for 24 hours, nowadays folks run them 24/7. I also only added phyto plankton once a month, just a capful.
msspfb
New Member
Small confession, we don't have a skimmer as we don't have a sump, we will look into getting one now just to be safe but our turbo snails have been eating the heck out of any extra algae growth, also I only feed them once a week instead I twice like the packaging recommends and it keeps it in check. Twice a week would be WAY too much IMO.