My new feather duster

[aadams22]

So this is the feather duster i picked up from petco today...he came with the live rock cuz they couldnt get him off LOL

Anyways he was kind of an impulse purchase, but what all do i need to do to care for him? Also, i opened the bag underwater, but theres a small bubble down inside his tube :/ will it be ok? Thanks

 

[MizTanks]

Picky lil buggers. Need slightly dirty water or dose Phytoplankton. I bought my first one last week, 2 days later it was dead [emoji45] Hope you have better luck.

 

[E572]

Hope you have good luck!! I spot feed mine with a baby syringe, works good for mine. Mine came from petco as well!!

 

[aadams22]

Thanks haha, i found out that the feathery part is actually the tail end, so ill have to unbury his face when i get home from work lol

 

[jpa0741]

Thanks haha, i found out that the feathery part is actually the tail end, so ill have to unbury his face when i get home from work lol

The feathery part is what they use to filter the water for food. Do not unbury. They will dig in the way they like it.

 

[aadams22]

Oh ok. Ill leave him alone then haha hopefully ill be able to get plankton from my friend today

 

[GhostCon1]

You need to "burp" it. That air bubble isn't good

 

[aadams22]

You need to "burp" it. That air bubble isn't good

And how do you do that? Haha

 

[Betta132]

Gently pick up the tube and turn it so the air bubble is pointing up. That should get it out. After that, put him down and leave him alone. They know what they want and how to get to it.

 

[aadams22]

Well, its a month later and hes doing fine [emoji2]. I dont see the bubble anymore so i dont think im gonna mess with him!

 

[aadams22]

He lost his crown....maybe the clowns or peppermint shrimp are picking on him???

 

[rt67ghy]

Sometimes they lose their crown if they're disturbed by other tank inhabitants or if they're stressed. It'll re-grow if everything is fine and he may even re-locate to another place.

 

[aadams22]

Sometimes they lose their crown if they're disturbed by other tank inhabitants or if they're stressed. It'll re-grow if everything is fine and he may even re-locate to another place.

Ok thanks! I sure hope he lives! I only have a ten gallon so i wouldnt want him to die and nuke my water quality lol

 

[Genera]

Most feather worms shed their crowns every couple of months, and they will regrow in a few weeks to months. Soft tubed feather dusters may also leave their tube, if so its for good reason such as lack of current, and will rebuild a new clear tube in a better spot of their preference in a matter of hours, and it will coat the tube with sand, detritus, etc. in a few days. The worm you have has these two features, and hobbyists often think their feather worm has died when their worm exhibits these characteristics. If you feed filter feeders foods such as marine snow, and phytoplankton, it can live several years.

 

[aadams22]

Most feather worms shed their crowns every couple of months, and they will regrow in a few weeks to months. Soft tubed feather dusters may also leave their tube, if so its for good reason such as lack of current, and will rebuild a new clear tube in a better spot of their preference in a matter of hours, and it will coat the tube with sand, detritus, etc. in a few days. The worm you have has these two features, and hobbyists often think their feather worm has died when their worm exhibits these characteristics. If you feed filter feeders foods such as marine snow, and phytoplankton, it can live several years.

Ok thanks! I feel a lot better about it now. I feed the tank a little bit of coral frenzy every week or two, and being a nano the water is probably always a little dirty so im sure it finds something to eat. You sure this isnt a problem though?

 

[aadams22]

Well he grew back smaller this time, thats normal??

 

[rt67ghy]

Yes, but i think it'll grow back to its original size.

 

[aadams22]

Thanks. So that means hes healthy and getting enough to eat?