Featherduster shrinking/dying, why?

ToadstoolCoral155 · Sep 2, 2018

Over the past 2-3 weeks I have noticed my large featherduster worm has had his feather things becoming smaller and smaller, from almost 2-3 inches to less than 2 inches, noticeable at the very least.
He has also been closing way more often and for longer lengths. Why is this happening?

I know it isn't starvation, or at least it's because HE isn't eating, because I have loads of plankton in my tank, I have a flame scallop that is growing and healthy, and copepods and pineapple sponges everywhere. He definetly has food always, as there is always particles in the water, including marine snow and reef roids.

Dsnakes · Sep 2, 2018

Sometimes these inverts just do not survive in our tanks. It may or may not be something as specific as food. What parameters do you have? Do you have any livestock that may be bothering it? A fish list might help as well.

ZoWhat · Sep 2, 2018

We need a full panel of std test results to answer your questions

ToadstoolCoral155 · Sep 3, 2018

Dsnakes said:
Sometimes these inverts just do not survive in our tanks. It may or may not be something as specific as food. What parameters do you have? Do you have any livestock that may be bothering it? A fish list might help as well.

Nothing picks at, I've never seen my clownfish or hermits pick at the worm itself. Occasionally the hermits will just pick at the stack.
Nitrates: 3-4 PPM, calcium 450 PPM, 0 nitrites, 0 phosphates, almost 0 ammonia.

ToadstoolCoral155 · Sep 3, 2018

Dsnakes said:
Sometimes these inverts just do not survive in our tanks. It may or may not be something as specific as food. What parameters do you have? Do you have any livestock that may be bothering it? A fish list might help as well.

Dsnakes · Sep 3, 2018

ToadstoolCoral155 said:
Nitrates: 3-4 PPM, calcium 450 PPM, 0 nitrites, 0 phosphates, almost 0 ammonia.

Is the ammonia issue ongoing? There shouldn’t be any I’m a cycled tank. It very well could be just starving though.

ToadstoolCoral155 · Sep 3, 2018

Dsnakes said:
Is the ammonia issue ongoing? There shouldn’t be any I’m a cycled tank. It very well could be just starving though.

I'm reffering to the fact that I use API for Ammonia, not the most accurate.

And did you read my post in it's entirety? There's no way it's starving because of a lack of food.

Dsnakes · Sep 3, 2018

ToadstoolCoral155 said:
And did you read my post in it's entirety? There's no way it's starving because of a lack of food.

I did. Keep in mind that particles floating around do not always mean that it is sufficient food. What is your feeding schedule? Perhaps #reefsquad can get some more eyes on this to help your feather duster. I am still leaning towards it’s decline being related to feeding.

MSB123 · Sep 3, 2018

I would also look into livestock picking at it- my clowns irritated mine to the point it died

ToadstoolCoral155 · Sep 4, 2018

Again, food should by no means be an issue- there is plenty of plankton in the water.

ToadstoolCoral155 · Sep 4, 2018

Dsnakes said:
I did. Keep in mind that particles floating around do not always mean that it is sufficient food. What is your feeding schedule? Perhaps #reefsquad can get some more eyes on this to help your feather duster. I am still leaning towards it’s decline being related to feeding.

I dose phyto 1-2 times a day (via reef roids or julian springs marine snow). Again, I have enough in the water that i'm having success with a flame scallop.

cjd · Sep 4, 2018

Hard to say really , sounds as though feeding is not the issue . My guess is something is picking at it when your are not watching. Could be flow ? May be air in the tube when placing it in the tank if it was a new piece from 2-3 weeks ago . They are known to shed the crowns when conditions are not favorable . Initial thoughts are something picking at it , if not seen during the day light hours , check when the lights go out with a flashlight .

ducklady · Sep 5, 2018

I had a real nice one once. Came home from work and my tangs had ate it. I was heartbroken.

ToadstoolCoral155 · Sep 5, 2018

cjd said:
Hard to say really , sounds as though feeding is not the issue . My guess is something is picking at it when your are not watching. Could be flow ? May be air in the tube when placing it in the tank if it was a new piece from 2-3 weeks ago . They are known to shed the crowns when conditions are not favorable . Initial thoughts are something picking at it , if not seen during the day light hours , check when the lights go out with a flashlight .

Well, it's all gone ahead now and done it's own thing. Something else was bothering it, as my featherduster now ejected out of his tube and went to a shadier place closer to the back size of the aquarium. Snails thought it was dead and climbed over it, but presumably it all went well because he dug himself under the sand and gave himself a sticky film to stick to the sand with.