? on feeding feather duster

[zoie2]

I have a small feather duster (1 1/2" wide crown) that my LFS said would profit from weekly spot feedings. I try to spot feed it with an eye dropper thing. I bought KENT Phytoplex and Chromaplex which I plan on using alternately 2x a week. ( 1cc.)
BUT my feather duster disapears when I get close to her. Will she still get the food she needs? She later pops out, but doesn't stay out when I release the liquid food. :help:

 

[alyssia]

I don't think you have to put the phyto right next to the duster. I just put the phyto in the top of the tank because I have lots of filter feeders.

 

[jerth6932]

Originally Posted by zoie2
I have a small feather duster (1 1/2" wide crown) that my LFS said would profit from weekly spot feedings. I try to spot feed it with an eye dropper thing. I bought KENT Phytoplex and Chromaplex which I plan on using alternately 2x a week. ( 1cc.)
BUT my feather duster disapears when I get close to her. Will she still get the food she needs? She later pops out, but doesn't stay out when I release the liquid food. :help:
I just put the reccomended amount of Phytoplanton in my tank, and let them fend for their selves.... it dilutes and all get some of it!!! You really dont need to direct feed them!

 

[zoie2]

Oh, o.k. The way he said spot feed I thought he meant like how I feed my sun coral. Well that way's even better.

Anyone know if the amount I'm feeding is correct? I have a 12 gal. And I have a small yellow polyp, a small star polyp, another very small star polyp, and the feather duster.(and a sun coral which I feed other food so I don't know if that matters)
I am feeding 1 cc. 2x a week.
Thanks!!

 

[merredeth]

I use a turkey baster and push the phyto out very slowly so the feathers just wave over it.
You have to go slow and carefully or they will retreat.
Denise M.

 

[zoie2]

How do I know if I am using enough or too much?

 

[mrdc]

Originally Posted by Merredeth
I use a turkey baster and push the phyto out very slowly so the feathers just wave over it.
You have to go slow and carefully or they will retreat.
Denise M.

Got that right! I have two big feather dusters and one small one. I have to sneak up on the to larger ones in order to feed them. The small one only comes out at night which sucks because I bought him because of his bright neon green color. Well he's just going to have to fend for himself. I do feed phyto to the other corals so there should be something in there for eating.

 

[merredeth]

RE: Feeding Dusters
Generally speaking, I use about a teaspoon and depress the turkey baster to get some water in it, then add about half a capful to top off the water in the turkey baster. I can then stick the turkey baster next to the dusters when they are out and very, very, very slowly release the liquid in the turkey baster over the feathers and let the feathers wave over it without touching the duster with the turkey baster.
I do this about twice a week (basically, that is when I think about it) as if your parameters are correct and it is an established tank, my understanding is that the dusters really don't do without nutrition. I just do it basically for peace of mind more than anything else as I have gone weeks without spot feeding.
Hope this helps the person that asked about how to spot feed and how much.
For the spot feeding and turkey baster challenged, one can also use an eye dropper to do this if the turkey baster isn't working well for them.
Denise M.

 

[vash1014]

filter feeders

 

[zoie2]

thanks for all the info! It does help! :jumping:

 

[jdragunas]

i don't ever feed my duster, and he's as healthy as ever. I feed my fish marine cuisine, and that has a lot of tiny particles i can see when i put it in. dusters are filter feeders and therefore clean up your tank water... by puting in plankton, IMO you're just dirtying up the water more than necessary...