Help! What's happening with my FD?

[MyMocha]

Hi all.
This is my first feather duster. I know they are hard to keep. I got him about 3 weeks ago and have been feeding him and doing my best to provide the care he requires. He has consistently had his crown open. But then this happened.
Please look at the photos. It appears my feather duster has left his tube?!
If you look at the sand closely, it seems like maybe there is a new tube or something maybe that he is creating?
1. Is this okay/normal?
2. Should I do anything?
He isn't dead, right? Because his crown is open?
Eeek:hmm1:! Help!

 

[mndfreeze]

So originally his crown was coming out of the top of the tube sticking up right?

And now he is under the sand with his crown sticking out? And you have seen him close and open it right?

Its not uncommon for feather dusters to decide they don't like where you placed them in the flow and leave their tube to go make a new one somewhere else. Generally leaving their tube is bad, but if it is still opening its crown then its fine. It might have just buried itself under the sand to feel more protected and will make a new tube there.

Generally they are not too hard to keep. Just like coral and other sensitive inverts you need to keep your water quality good, avoid large swings in temp and salinity, and if you have SUPER clean water because of filtratrion then dosing phyto and other micro planktons will feed it. Just don't do it so often it fills your water with nitrates and stuff.

Most people don't even directly feed them at all in established tanks because they get enough food just from bacteria and algae growing in the tank in the water column and as missed micro food bits from feeding fish and coral.

 

[VvGorgonia90vV]

My feather duster once left his shell because he was being attacked by our tang. He then moved to a spot where the tang couldnt get him and he built a whole new shell. He’s always open and healthy today. As long as you’re feeding it it should be fine.

 

[MyMocha]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate the info. I'm relieved.
1. That tube was his, yes. And ...Yes he is opening and closing. Yaay!
The tube under the sand is even more obvious now. It appears he is like attaching to the rock close by.
Lisa

 

[MyMocha]

Wait!!! One more question.
Should I remove his old tube from the tank???? Or leave it?

 

[mndfreeze]

Just leave it. It will slowly degrade in the tank anyway and become nutrients for other stuff. Plus he might still be sort of attached to it. Its pretty common they will back out of the bottom end of their tubes, make a hole then start building their new tube out of that so you end up having 2 tubes that are stuck together at the end.

It won't hurt anything to leave it there.

 

[MyMocha]

Ok. Will do. Thank you!!