Anyone have a sea feather?

[taylor t]

Just wondering if anyone around here has a seafeather in thier care for a while? Care to share? I know they don't have a good survival record in captivity, or atleast I have never read of anyone doing it, but here's a couple pics of mine. I wish I could find more info on them. Anyone?

Apparently, it doesn't get stung by anemone's, nor can an anemone catch it. Last night, it posed nicely for me - right up front in the glass.

It crawls at the speed of a crab walking, when it moves. Here is where I found it today. Using the candy canes as shade. It doesn't seem to like light.

I've had it for a few months (spring?), I don't know what it eats. I expected it to die, it was cheap. Seems to be doing good, it's not dropping arms off, as I read they do. I will see it in one spot one day, and on the opposite side of the tank later that day, then won't see it for a week. I try to feed my tank rods food every other day, not sure if that matters, and I'm not good at regular water changes, nor do I test much, so I really don't know what levels are where (I have an idea, that's it). Yes, shame on me. Anyone with knowledge and insight for feather star care or needs? Anyone know what they eat, it must be eating something... I see lots of bugs/pods in the tank. 75 gallon, with only 2 fish. More info is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[taylor t]

Another pic last night of it, it looks like it's mouth.

 

[ptr13]

that is amazing Dave, nice pics, classic example of symbiotic relationship between anemone and sea feather, pretty cool stuff.

 

[ykh]

interesting and beautiful creature, thanks for sharing.

 

[taylor t]

Thanks guys! Pete, it isn't a simbiotic relationship. I was just noting that it isn't affected by the anemone, and just walked itself right under it, and walked itself right out. It's really an interesting animal to watch, when it's out. It's really only interesting to watch when it moves, otherwise, it's just like staring at a rock.

 

[steveo9043]

Interesting little guy. First 2 pictures it looks like a Christmas reef

 

[taylor t]

So I forgot I had this guy. It disappeared around christmas maybe? It just popped out today. It puts the arms into the flow, then retracts it in.

In this pic, it's a bit blurry. I'm sorry. But, this pic shows the best, as my camera can't zoom any closer. It has arms, then on the arms it has fingers, then on each finger are tiny cilia (sp?). Tiny tiny. like maybe a hundred on each finger. This shows the best even though it's blurry, if you look at each finger, you will see it's really fuzzy next to each finger. It's grown lots of this "fuzz" since last I saw it. Kind of cool, thought I'd share.

Any other feather stars around? Pics??? I've seen a couple at a few LFS around in the last coule years, wondering if anyone around picked one up?

 

[ptr13]

nice pics Dave, have to see it in person one of these days.

 

[taylor t]

It's a real beauty of a creature to watch!!