Feather Duster/Coco Worm Question

ssick92 · 10/21/2012, 07:16 PM

Hey everyone,

So I had been looking into getting a feather duster and/or coco worm for a little while. I ended up driving to a LFS a little ways away hoping they would have some good selection. However, they didn't really, but I still picked up a Purple and White Hawaiian Feather Duster. Thing is, they were having a special on Coco worms also. Unfortunately, they had just been brought in yesterday so their "feathers" were not out. I took a cheap risk and picked one up anyway, but I think I just bought an empty tube... Neither of them have opened up at all or even showed any hint of life.

How long do they normally take to come out of their tubes? And what do you think my chances are? I have heard they are not good long term, but I have perfect water quality so I want to see how long I can keep them for.

Here is the feather duster. Its base is down inside some LR in the sand, and this is all I have seen since I got home and acclimated it for 30 minutes.

Here is my empty tube I purchased... But in all seriousness, does this look like it could have a coco worm inside it? When I transferred it to the tank, air bubbles came out of both sides of the tube, which seems like a bad sign to me...

ssick92 · 10/22/2012, 07:05 PM

Well, Day 2:

When I woke up at 7:30, the Hawaiian Feather Duster was out and about. When I get home from class, at 12:30 when the lights are on, the feather duster was in his tube all day and hasn't come out to say hi. I am guessing he is just getting used to the lights and building courage...

As for Picture #2. I am becoming more confident that it is nothing but an empty tube.

SushiGirl · 10/22/2012, 09:06 PM

They should have been able to feel whether anything was in the tube or not when they pulled it from the tank to give it to you. If they didn't & it's empty, I'd let them know.

MikeandNicole · 10/22/2012, 09:10 PM

I am sorry to say tht your coco worm tube does not look like either of mine. Both of my coco worm tubes are mostly white, they do not have coralline on them. My coco worms both came out within an hour of arrival. . . And one of them was shipped (divers den).
Keep in mind that your pristine water may not be what the feather duster needs, they are filter feeders. You may want to consider adding phyto as well as small foods the worm can catch; "target feeding" a feather duster doesn't really work, so you need to suspend food in the water colum or the animal will slowly starve to death.

ssick92 · 10/22/2012, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeandNicole

I am sorry to say tht your coco worm tube does not look like either of mine. Both of my coco worm tubes are mostly white, they do not have coralline on them. My coco worms both came out within an hour of arrival. . . And one of them was shipped (divers den).
Keep in mind that your pristine water may not be what the feather duster needs, they are filter feeders. You may want to consider adding phyto as well as small foods the worm can catch; "target feeding" a feather duster doesn't really work, so you need to suspend food in the water colum or the animal will slowly starve to death.

Ya, I've pretty much chocked up the empty tube to a learning experience.

But with regards to the water quality and feeding... I have been dosing Phytofeast every other day as well as spot feeding all my corals Oyster Feast on the days I don't dose phyto. So there should be plenty of particulate in the water column to be filtered. In fact, my tank has been almost overrun by micro feather dusters, so there is evidence of good quality water for filter feeders.

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SushiGirl · 10/22/2012, 09:51 PM

Featherdusters require specific sized particles, the rest they discard. This is part of why they often slowly starve to death in our tanks. Smaller ones often thrive while the larger ones starve, so I wouldn't use that as a reliable guideline. I wish I had the slides from the Shimek presentation on the subject we had at one of our meetings. Not sure if the info can be found online anywhere or not. He discussed particle sizes and the fact that in the ocean they're constantly feeding, not just being fed sometimes.

ssick92 · 10/26/2012, 01:24 AM

Well, the Hawaiian feather duster comes out every night when the lights are off, but he never comes out during the day... Is there something I can do to help him acclimate to the light better?

This picture was taken at night with a flash.

reret10 · 10/26/2012, 09:41 AM

Well I dont have much to say about the featherduster but nice crocia clam.

ssick92 · 10/26/2012, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reret10

Well I dont have much to say about the featherduster but nice crocia clam.

Thank you! He's been in my tank about 1 month and he's growing like crazy!

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Capncavey · 11/05/2012, 07:58 PM

My coco actually does have coralline growing on it except new growth which is white. I very much like him and my green feather I have and hope to keep for a long time. Has anyone tried dripping phyto feast daily or will that cause issues? Was thinking on a couple ml per day but was scared of algea and phosphate issues

Chinch Bug · 11/10/2012, 10:50 PM

If that coco worm was alive it would have some new white calcium growth at opening of tube. I wouldnt buy one without seeing that.

10/21/2012, 07:16 PM	#1
ssick92 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: San Clemente, CA Posts: 911	Feather Duster/Coco Worm Question Hey everyone, So I had been looking into getting a feather duster and/or coco worm for a little while. I ended up driving to a LFS a little ways away hoping they would have some good selection. However, they didn't really, but I still picked up a Purple and White Hawaiian Feather Duster. Thing is, they were having a special on Coco worms also. Unfortunately, they had just been brought in yesterday so their "feathers" were not out. I took a cheap risk and picked one up anyway, but I think I just bought an empty tube... Neither of them have opened up at all or even showed any hint of life. How long do they normally take to come out of their tubes? And what do you think my chances are? I have heard they are not good long term, but I have perfect water quality so I want to see how long I can keep them for. Here is the feather duster. Its base is down inside some LR in the sand, and this is all I have seen since I got home and acclimated it for 30 minutes. Here is my empty tube I purchased... But in all seriousness, does this look like it could have a coco worm inside it? When I transferred it to the tank, air bubbles came out of both sides of the tube, which seems like a bad sign to me... __________________ John IM Nuvo 10g Mixed Reef Nano \| Kessil A160we \| Mp10QD \| Osmolator Nano

10/22/2012, 09:06 PM	#3
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	They should have been able to feel whether anything was in the tube or not when they pulled it from the tank to give it to you. If they didn't & it's empty, I'd let them know. __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

10/22/2012, 09:10 PM	#4
MikeandNicole Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Jersey shore Posts: 1,395	I am sorry to say tht your coco worm tube does not look like either of mine. Both of my coco worm tubes are mostly white, they do not have coralline on them. My coco worms both came out within an hour of arrival. . . And one of them was shipped (divers den). Keep in mind that your pristine water may not be what the feather duster needs, they are filter feeders. You may want to consider adding phyto as well as small foods the worm can catch; "target feeding" a feather duster doesn't really work, so you need to suspend food in the water colum or the animal will slowly starve to death. __________________ Joined the big boys, Elos 160XL display plumbed into the basement. ~400 of fun!

10/22/2012, 09:51 PM	#6
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	Featherdusters require specific sized particles, the rest they discard. This is part of why they often slowly starve to death in our tanks. Smaller ones often thrive while the larger ones starve, so I wouldn't use that as a reliable guideline. I wish I had the slides from the Shimek presentation on the subject we had at one of our meetings. Not sure if the info can be found online anywhere or not. He discussed particle sizes and the fact that in the ocean they're constantly feeding, not just being fed sometimes. __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

10/26/2012, 01:24 AM	#7
ssick92 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: San Clemente, CA Posts: 911	Well, the Hawaiian feather duster comes out every night when the lights are off, but he never comes out during the day... Is there something I can do to help him acclimate to the light better? This picture was taken at night with a flash. __________________ John IM Nuvo 10g Mixed Reef Nano \| Kessil A160we \| Mp10QD \| Osmolator Nano

10/22/2012, 07:05 PM	#2
ssick92 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: San Clemente, CA Posts: 911	Well, Day 2: When I woke up at 7:30, the Hawaiian Feather Duster was out and about. When I get home from class, at 12:30 when the lights are on, the feather duster was in his tube all day and hasn't come out to say hi. I am guessing he is just getting used to the lights and building courage... As for Picture #2. I am becoming more confident that it is nothing but an empty tube. __________________ John IM Nuvo 10g Mixed Reef Nano \| Kessil A160we \| Mp10QD \| Osmolator Nano

10/26/2012, 09:41 AM	#8
reret10 Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Riverside, California Posts: 421	Well I dont have much to say about the featherduster but nice crocia clam. __________________ Some people take things with a grain of salt, others take it with a half a cup per gallon.

11/05/2012, 07:58 PM	#10
Capncavey Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 167	My coco actually does have coralline growing on it except new growth which is white. I very much like him and my green feather I have and hope to keep for a long time. Has anyone tried dripping phyto feast daily or will that cause issues? Was thinking on a couple ml per day but was scared of algea and phosphate issues __________________ 28 gallon nanocube pro mixed reef setup and loving it Current Tank Info: 28 gallon nanocube pro led, 2 koralia 425, koralia 240, 2 75 watt jäger heaters. Mixed reef mainly sps

11/10/2012, 10:50 PM	#11
Chinch Bug Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chester Springs, PA Posts: 58	If that coco worm was alive it would have some new white calcium growth at opening of tube. I wouldnt buy one without seeing that.