How to Move Featherduster?

[richl]

Recently bought 3 featherdusters from this site. After acclimation, I placed each in holes in rocks so that they were visible and in good water flow. The next morning, one had fallen off and was under a rock overhang. He was still open because the flow was ok there as well, he's just not readily visible. I wanted to move him back on higher rock, but he attached himself to the side of a rock on the bottom. How do I detach him without injuring him? I tried nudging him off with my finger but stopped becuase I though I might injure him. Should I use a sharp knife or just leave him there? I could rearrange the rock that he's attached to, but I don't know what other creatures I might disturb. Any ideas? Thanks

 

[spkdtch]

good question, my group of three should be in the mail here today in a few hours, im not certian but i think they attatch themselves with their foot, so part of their body, so i would assume it would hurt them, but im not sure how seriously
i would like to know for myself so i can place them properly in my tank

 

[florida joe]

I would not run the risk of tearing the parchment like tube covering the worm. It is its protection from predators. Once its surroundings are incorporated into its tube IMO its there to stay. As a side note if and when moving a tube worm form one place to another try to keep it submerged as the worm used the water for buoyancy

 

[richl]

Since the featherdusters attach themselves to rocks, whoever harvests them from the sea must know how to gather them without injuring them. Is there a way to get this question to the staff at SWF?

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by RichL
http:///forum/post/3012236
Since the featherdusters attach themselves to rocks, whoever harvests them from the sea must know how to gather them without injuring them. Is there a way to get this question to the staff at SWF?
Go the the "Ask SaltwaterFish.com" posting spot....

 

[flower]

Don't use a knife or anything just your finger.
The guy at the LFS just uses his fingernail to gently pry the worm’s foot up and off of the rock. When they see you’re not going to leave them alone they release.
Do not disturb the tube part be gentle but keep prying.

 

[ophiura]

You can gently use your finger to pry it off, HOWEVER...keep this in mind. If the animal has attached and is "happy" where it is...it may NOT be happy where you actually want it. That is the drawback of things like tubeworms, anemones, flame scallops, etc...

 

[spkdtch]

after acclimating mine, all 3 were attached to eachother, makes sense seeing as the only other place to attach to would have been the bag, they did hang on tight, but the figernail trick worked, just go very slow and dong force them, took about 5 minutes to seperate the 3 of them, now they are in the tank, all fannned out looking cool

 

[u mike]

I was told by my lfs, If you want to get a small live rock piece, put duster at base of rock. let him attach to rock, then you can move rock & duster where you want.

 

[pixiefish]

I've moved my one featherduster twice simply by gently scraping with my finger nail on the rock it's attached to and moving it. I haven't killed it yet.

 

[coldshot]

If you will take and pick him up as high as you can and take your fingertip and gently nudge at the foot theat is stuck to rock and continue bothering him he will eventually let go. Same goes with Anemone's....
Danny

 

[salami trigger]

Yes..like evry one else said..
I always pry away from top openeing..lift up duster..then pry away from under foot towards its back end.