I have a 20 gallon tank with live rock, one coral, clarkii clownish, firefish, candy cane goby and coral banded shrimp. I also have a feather duster worm that seems to be gradually losing its feathers. Do I need to target feed this animal or can it get enough food just by filter feeding? Any other ideas why it might be declining?
feather duster problem
- Thread starter jimk
- Start date
Yes, target feed it and see if that helps. Lowering your protien skimmer rate will also help the worm to find more "snacks".
How is your water flow? Try to postition the feather duster in a good current (not really strong, but enough to make the feathers sway.)
Feather dusters will lose their feathers if they don't get enough food, but they should re-grow. The new head may be smaller, but that is just a sign that you need to get more food to it.
How is your water flow? Try to postition the feather duster in a good current (not really strong, but enough to make the feathers sway.)
Feather dusters will lose their feathers if they don't get enough food, but they should re-grow. The new head may be smaller, but that is just a sign that you need to get more food to it.
feathe dusters shed there "dusters" when they are being attacked by predators and grow them back under optimal conditions
another cause could be poor water quality
another cause could be poor water quality
Watch to see if any of the fish are bothering the duster. If not, I would suspect water flow/quality. Target feeding can help if filter feeding isn't going so well.
what i will do sometimes is take some formula 2 seaweed and crush it and mix it with a lot of water from the tank. then when its good and mixed take a turkey baster and spread the mixture around the duster, do not use a lot maybe about a tablespoon or two. sometimes this works and we do it in a tank we are servicing, also how much of a loss is it really if it dies, you know?
ph was 8.0 ammonia and nitrite were 0 and nitrates were between 5 and 10 ppm.Water Temp is 82.Current seems alright, the feathers are swaying in the water.I suspect either the Clarkii clownfish or the Boxer Shrimp but have not actually observed either bothering feather duster. Feathers are not so much being shed as are being broken off. I will attempt to target feed.
The clown might be harassing it or one of the shrimp. Clowns really like to feel like they have an anemone or something like it. I've had a pair think a torch coral was home, another clown take refuge in some xenia. Some clowns can be a bit neurotic. But these are most likely just my weird fish.
Chances are good its caused from the clown, even normally passive fish get "wierd" My yellow tang has acted like a monster at times trying to intimidate my sea apple. 