[skylergirl]

I tried moving my feather duster today. It was recently moved just this past weekend when I had to tear the tank apart. When I moved it before, no big deal...grab and move to wherever.

But tonight when I tried to move it, it proved ot be a little more stubborn. I thought it was wedged between the rocks, so I rearranged some of the rockwork just a little.

Well, I was tugging on the thing and pulled the whole casing RIGHT OFF! EWWWWW!!! It was gross.[-bigmouth][-bigeyes]

Somehow, the worm managed to glue itself onto the rocks.

Now that it is naked, do you think it will die or just regenerate another tube? It didn't loose the crown of feathers so it can still filter feed. It is really lost between the rocks now though.

I chucked the empty tube in the garbage, but now I'm thinking that might have been a mistake. Oh well, too late now unless I want to pollute the tank with rotisserie chicken leftovers!

Any suggestions?

 

[shermlock]

skylergirl, Please sit down for bad news. From what I read, it is as good as dead. I have never read any reports of them growing another "shell" or going back into their old one.
Scott

 

[skylergirl]

Oh poo [(] It was a super nice looking one too with a double crown. Now I feel guilty that I just killed it.

Thanks for letting me know though. It was very large, maybe 6 inches. So I'll have to keep an eye on it if it starts to die. Don't want the water quality taking a dive.

 

[shermlock]

I am no expert so make sure you check with other sources. I am trying to recall information from a while ago so...
Scott

 

[Rook]

Feather dusters will always try and cement themselves to something and they can do it overnight. They are very hard to get off when they do. Maybe a razor blade would do the trick. But, now it will likely die, but I would leave and give it a shot. You never really know. They make those tubes so it may be able to make a new one.

But, feather dusters have a very specific diet, more so than clams (not counting the light and algae as food for clams), and typically they will always starve to death anyways. I have had a few of these things and they are one of the few critters I have never had any luck keeping long term. I'm talking only about the big feathers duster worms though, others that just pop up on live rock are quite hardy.

 

[joedelt]

for feather dusters, dont you have to have either REALLY high organics, or be dosing DT's or somthing similar anyway? i ask because i was thinking of getting one

 

[waynesreef]

Sunny,

Try this, put the worm in the sand bed and cover the body with some sand. It will eventually grow another shell.

 

[hjmtv]

I have "modified" my feather duster's casing and they are not worse for wear. I have not totally removed them but I do not think all is doom and gloom. It will regenerate a casing but it takes time and it's soft body is now a tempting morsel for a passerby. If you can keep something from eating it, I think it will be ok.

 

[Turtle]

My hermit crabs ate my duster after it left its tube. They can regrow the calcium tube or the feathers if given enough time.

 

[skylergirl]

Well, I redid my rockwork again today in order to accomodate some of the new frags. I have not seen the crown of the feather duster for well over a week. I turned over the rock where the feather duster used to be. Low and behold, it is plenty alive and has already made half it casing back. [D] It's making it from the crown downward. I can see the dark brown wormy part. The crown of feathers is very responsive to movement.

Guess I count myself lucky that somebody didn't make a meal of it.

 

[shermlock]

That is awesome! I am so glad to be totally wrong.
Scott

 

[skylergirl]

Here's a picture of the "half" naked feather duster. I guess this is still X rated since it's the "bottom" half that's naked! [D]

 

[hjmtv]

Cool. I was pretty sure it wouldn't die unless something ate it. Keep adding extra calcium since it uses it to rebuild the casing.

 

[skylergirl]

Thanks for the tip, I'll dose some extra now [)]