The Smokin Duster

[jrpage]

Hey there,
I'm new to feather duster's, but I have been enjoying the one I purchased from SWF.Com!
Last week it threw it's crown so I immediately checked my parameters but all's within norm. The tank's extremly healthy. Lot's of pods, worms, things as yet unidentified;-)
My best guess is - some kind of spawning? It started just after lights on this morning and has gone in continuous spurts for about 20 minutes now - err make that 25.
Any ideas or thoughts from those who know and have experienced this?
Thanks,
Rhonda

 

[wocka]

ya it will do that when it grows... may take a few weeks to go back, feed it phytoplankton

 

[thomas712]

Two things are possible here, either it is releasing --- products or it may be a waste product.
So was the smoke milky and or cloudy or was it stringy?
Thomas

 

[jrpage]

Seemed to be more milky and cloudy to me.
How does that work Thomas? Will they throw their crowns before spawning? The process lasted for about 30 minutes after I last wrote.
Thanks for you insight! This is pretty facinating!
Rhonda

 

[thomas712]

Stress is why they throw there crown, when it comes back you may find it has smaller feathers.
Many report that healthy ones will do this from time to time.
I have not witnessed mine do it in 8 months scince I've had it.
Sounds like maybe it was acclimation shock or water condition shock that made it throw its crown. Even though your water may test fine for what we can test for it could be reacting to other dissolved organincs that we can not or do not test for.
Make sure you feed phytoplankton, not directly but the closer the better into the water column that will take it right into the feathers path. I use an over the counter syringe from a

[hr]
.
Thomas