Feather Duster

[Time to Reef]

I bought a feather duster one week ago and put it in my tank. It was out for three days and now has not come out for several days. Is this normal or has it died?? Where do they typically like to be placed in the tank. It was on the bottom but I didn't think there was enough flow for it to feed down there??

[philter4]

I don't know if it is dead or not, but feather dusters can and will abandon their tube if the placement is not to their liking. They will find a spot they like, and make a new tube. I have also seen them work thier way into the reef where I could no longer see them while still in their tube.

When under stress they can also shed their crown. This sometines happens for various reasons, and as long as food is available and the stresser is removed (ie water quality improvement or what ever the stress was) the crown can grow back.

As far as flow, I've seen them under objects where flow was minimal and they were thriving, but I wouldn't place them in a spot with no flow.

Good luck

[spinninmidwater]

3 days... that's a bit long for fasting. they feed only when their feather is out. flow is everything to them. some like moderate flow while some enjoy forceful water movement but none survive no flow since they rely on current to bring food to them. i'd suggest u move the tube to a place with better flow and see if it comes out again. i've been keep featherdusters for a year and i notice if they are healthy they are out most of the time, day and night. good luck

[mscarpena]

Yeah I agree thats a bit long. Do you have any fish that would pick at it or did the cone get damaged??

[Questionmarc]

my copper band pics at them do you have a copperband?