Feather Dusters - Whats the deal with them

[bas12547]

I have feather dusters attatched to my lr.
I just noticed that they come out of the tubes and quickly dash back in when something comes near them. I have had the tank for about 4 months and just noticed this.
Did they always do this? Did I just miss it before? Do they ever move or reproduce?
Thanks,
Brian

 

[jenmca]

I don't really have the answers for your questions...but I have a few more:
- What do they eat? I've tried some fine feeder food, but when I put it in the tank they don't really seem to eat. I thought I would see them snatch some and pull it in the tube.
- Will they grow? I have quite a few on my LR but they are tiny and I'd lvoe to see them get a bit bigger.
bas12547 I would guess your were always there, perhaps on an area of the rock you couldn't see (maybe even inside), and I think they will move if they can't find any food where they are. I have read threads on some that pop thier tops in search of better feeding grounds.

 

[phil1964]

Adding to the questions...
Do they need light?
Some of mine are on the underside of rocks.

 

[birdy]

Feather dusters are a worm, the feathers are to gather food particles from the water, usually the small stuff you can't see. I believe the small dusters on your rock do reproduce because I have many more now than when I first got my rock and some are even growing on my glass. They will loose the feathers on top if they get stress and can move from thier tubes and grow a new one then they grow new feathers. This is my limited knowlege about them.

 

[ncjetskier]

Feather dusters do move to find a more suitable place in the tank. They eat very small food particles in the water. The best food in my opinion is to take fish (non oily) shrimp, squid, brine shrimp, oysters and planton and grind it up in a blender then freeze (some add garlic-yes garlic-juice without any other additives to the garlic. Freeze in freezer. Break off a small piece and add to tank when melted. This will contain small pieces of food to your tank inhabitants and will contain variety. Most FD like light, however will try to put they tube under a rock for protection. Opening and closing is normal, especially when disturbed.