Help my featherduster

[bbrock]

My yellow tang pecked a hole in the side of my featherdusters tube and now it is partly hanging out of the hole. I have placed it in adifferent part of the tank so it is better protected but the damage has been done. Can I cut off the tube at the hole or will it hurt the featherduster. I do not think it is going to live the way it is isbecause it is only partly out of the tube. Help before it dies.
Bill

 

[viper_930]

Just leave it as is. I think cutting it more will harm it. Nothing much you can do now but wait. Can you get a picture of the hole and the duster?

 

[cprdnick]

Most, if not all, feather dusters can maintain their own tubes without our help. Your duster built its own tube, it can repair a hole, just watch that nothing bothers him through the hole.

 

[bbrock]

Thanks for the help. There is a lot to learn. I am sure in time I will become an expert. This is a great place to learn. I had a saltwater tank about 20 years ago. Things sure have changed. I am happy I have found access to such knowledgable people. Makes things a lot easier than 20 years ago.
I will try to get a picture as soon as I can.

 

[cprdnick]

that's a pretty good idea

 

[thomas712]

I remember a member here named Tim G who placed an ousted feather duster worm in a pvc pipe but I can no longer find the thread. Tim made some comments on the board and is no longer with us. However he was quite crafty with his save of the feather duster, he even had pics of it that were posted on this board.
If you decide to go this route with the pvc pipe I was also thinking about what would happen if you also loaded the pvc pipe with some sand from the tank. dusters can create a new tube in just a few hours, but will also utilize particals of the substrate to build on that mucus layer. Not sure about loading the pvc with sand just thinking out loud about it.
Thomas

 

[innsmouth]

Would all that mucus foul the water at all?

 

[thomas712]

No its not like a seeping wound or anything, more like the fish that has a slime coat, but you don't see it slime the water or anything just coats the worm.
Thomas

 

[razoreqx]

Originally posted by Melody
Some people get a small piece of pvc pipe to put the duster in until they can recover. Just enough that their tube will be protected leaving room for the crown to catch food from the water column.
Hey thats a great idea!! (makes a note)