Feather Duster's Crown Popped Off?

[jnegvesky]

So today I noticed something strange, that my feather duster's crown has popped off. I've had him about a week... Is he dead or will he grow another one? I'm running to the store today to make sure the salt level is good and not weird. What is the right salt amount or what should it be? Thanks!

 

[btldreef]

There's a few reasons they can loose their crown:
Stress
Starvation
Growth
How new is your tank? They don't usually fair well in new tanks.
I can't keep them in my tank because my Coral Beauty eats their crowns and kills them.
Salt levels should be 1.023-1.027. They must remain stable and constant. I keep my tanks at 1.025. Measure salinity with a refractometer.
You need to be measuring your salinity on your own. Taking it to the store to be measured will not give you an accurate reading. Salinity measurements can change depending on temperature. Most of the time once you remove the water to take to the store, it cools down and the readings won't be 100% accurate.

 

[jnegvesky]

I give my duster about one teaspoon of zooplex every morning. What could be the stress issue?

 

[jnegvesky]

Wait, so it's not dead? Will another crown grow back?

 

[btldreef]

It might be dead. I'm not there to see it. If it is not dead, yes, it will grow back.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jnegvesky http:///t/392038/feather-dusters-crown-popped-off#post_3479292
I give my duster about one teaspoon of zooplex every morning. What could be the stress issue?
+1 you need your own test kits and hydrometer to test the SG at least.
A polluted tank, too strong of a power head beating it, picking fish, and those snails that shoot a web tangled in their crown are just some of the things that stress them and cause the crown to fall off. You don't need to feed a featherduster by adding food everyday, all you are doing is polluting the water. I have had dusters for years and NEVER added extra food for them. Nitrates could be at leathel levels with all that wasted food. Above 20 and inverts like featherdusters don't do well and show stress, 40+ and they die.
It takes at least two weeks for a crown to grow back.

 

[jnegvesky]

On the bottom left is the feather duster.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jnegvesky http:///t/392038/feather-dusters-crown-popped-off#post_3479304

On the bottom left is the feather duster.
Don't bother it and wait to see if he regrows his crown. Hope he makes it, the tube is pointed up, a good sign.

 

[bang guy]

That fish looks pretty relaxed. How much waterflow do you have in that tank?

 

[jnegvesky]

It's a tiny waterfall like one.

 

[btldreef]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jnegvesky http:///t/392038/feather-dusters-crown-popped-off#post_3479292
I give my duster about one teaspoon of zooplex every morning. What could be the stress issue?
You have a ten gallon tank, right?
This is way too much.
From the look of the picture, this tank looks to be fairly new. I see some diatoms which is what is leading me to believe this to be the case. I really think that your tank might be too young for a feather duster right now. Zooplex, and most zooplankton bottled products is doing nothing for the feather duster but stressing it because it's polluting your water.

 

[bang guy]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jnegvesky http:///t/392038/feather-dusters-crown-popped-off#post_3479317
It's a tiny waterfall like one.
This is a problem. Feather Dusters rely on water current to bring them food. They need a LOT of water current and the current coming straight from a filter is not going to bring them any food.