What could have happened to my feather duster???
- Thread starter puffer32
- Start date
jobob
Member
are u sure he was in there when u bought him? he could have gottin spooked and jump into the rock. i had it happen before. i didnt see him for about 2 months then one day he popped back out! did u pull his tube from the rock? i had a worm hang out on my rock for 2weeks without a tube. i tried to give him a hard tube i found in my tank but no luck. then one day he went missing. i think a fish ate him?
puffer32
Active Member
Yes, he was in the tube when i bought him. After acclaimation I placed him on a rock at the bottom of my tank he was fully extended. Next morning he was on the sand near the rock still in his tube, but extended. When i turned out the lighs last night he retacted into his tube with just alittle of the duster sticking out. This morning he was not in the tube anywhere. Maybe i looked around in the rockwork without didturbing it, and can't find it or my watchmen goby (who hasn't shown his self yet since I got him fri night).
cowfishrule
Active Member
i've had dusters jump ship and relocate before.
actually, my 2nd one just left home and has relocated under one of my rocks.
maybe he was in the process of finding a new home and got caught in a current.
actually, my 2nd one just left home and has relocated under one of my rocks.
maybe he was in the process of finding a new home and got caught in a current.
fishmamma
Active Member
My duster was dead this morning. It had left it's tube and settled itself into a hole in live rock, but it was not alive. Maybe other inverts got to it. Still, this is starnge. I wonder why they jump ship like that.
Does anybody feed their dusters? I was told it is not necessary to add anything for them. But now I am wondering if our dusters were hungry and that is why they left their tubes?
Does anybody feed their dusters? I was told it is not necessary to add anything for them. But now I am wondering if our dusters were hungry and that is why they left their tubes?
kaotik
Member
my question is: Once they leave their tubes, how do you know if it is alive or not? Do they move around or just lay there? Mine did the same thing as everyone else...he threw his crown and the next day was hanging halfway out of his tube. I assumed he was dead because he wasnt moving so i tossed it. I hope he wasnt still alive?????? 
puffer32
Active Member
Yikes, all i found was an empty tube and his crown stuck to the filter, could he be alive someplace growing a new crown? at the end of the tube is a sorta soft beige tail, is that the actual worm? What do they look like? Would it be moving or still assuming its alive someplace? All I found is the crown and empty tube :notsure: Is there more to it? At least i still have the tube, left it in the tank, should i take it out?
cowfishrule
Active Member
my dusters have never thrown the crown, but they both have left their original tubes and relocated under some rock. they have even started forming new tubes.
i feed them kent phytomax, i believe. i feed that every 4 or 5 days.
i dont even just feed them directly, i just mix it with a cup of tank water, and dump it in.
i feed them kent phytomax, i believe. i feed that every 4 or 5 days.
i dont even just feed them directly, i just mix it with a cup of tank water, and dump it in.
evilbob22
Member
Leave the tube in, he could be down in the tube and still alive. They are known to leave their tube and/or throw off their crown sometimes. They can survive either or both. As was32 said, if he's alive, you'll see him again eventually and if he's dead, the hermits will take care of him.
fishmamma
Active Member
Nope, that is not the worm. That is the end of the tube. Mine came out with the crown still attached. It was in the rock but not fuilly opened. When I touched it the crown didn't move so I pulled it up and the worm itself seemed dead so I pulled it out. I hope I was not mistaken. It definatly seemed dead. I would think that the worm would have responded to me touching it in some way??
If the crown is all you found the worm is probably alive in the tube growing a new crown.
If the crown is all you found the worm is probably alive in the tube growing a new crown.
dskidmore
Active Member
Originally Posted by fishmamma
Does anybody feed their dusters? I was told it is not necessary to add anything for them. But now I am wondering if our dusters were hungry and that is why they left their tubes?
Dusters are filter feeders. If you have a ton of pods for them to feed on, they'll be fine without feeding. In an immature tank however, they will need supplimental food.
Does anybody feed their dusters? I was told it is not necessary to add anything for them. But now I am wondering if our dusters were hungry and that is why they left their tubes?
Dusters are filter feeders. If you have a ton of pods for them to feed on, they'll be fine without feeding. In an immature tank however, they will need supplimental food.
snipe
Active Member
Mine is currently in the proccess of doing so. The problem I had was he threw his crown before hand but it didnt fall down in peices like I have seen on posts so many times it came off as one "big" peice. He has made it about 6 inches or less in two days I check on him and he is alive just taking his time on finding a place. I think my problem was not enough current well I know better for next time.
mudplayerx
Active Member
If you have other inverts that you feed phytoplankton to, then a feather duster will not need to be fed as it will eat what they miss. In an established tank with live rock, a feather duster will never need feeding. If you need assurance you can put NO MORE THAN 2 to 3 drops of phytoplankton into the water every 3 or 4 days.
My guess is they crawl out of their tubes for one of two reasons. One reason is that the tube is damaged and causing discomfort to the worm. The other reason is since the worm cant move around the tank while it is inside the tube, it leaves the tube to get to a better condition in the tank. The cause of this can be too much water current.
My guess is they crawl out of their tubes for one of two reasons. One reason is that the tube is damaged and causing discomfort to the worm. The other reason is since the worm cant move around the tank while it is inside the tube, it leaves the tube to get to a better condition in the tank. The cause of this can be too much water current.