Featherless Feather Duster

VWMT · 10/29/2009, 09:22 AM

It was recommended that I move my feather duster out of the direct MH light, so I gently loosened it from the rock and placed it lower in the tank with some shadowing from above. The next day I found it's feathers on the other side of the tank. Thinking the tube must be dead, I tried to remove it. It pulled away from me and it's valve (at the end of the tube) moved. Thinking it must be alive I left it. It had the same reaction a couple of days later.

Has anyone seen a feather duster eject it's feathers? Will it regenerate it's feathers?

lordofthereef · 10/29/2009, 10:31 AM

Never heard of this myself. Are you sure you actually saw what you think you saw?

Frogmanx82 · 10/29/2009, 11:23 AM

It happened to mine a couple months ago. I was moving it around too much trying to keep it away from the clown who was nipping it. The whole feather crown came off and I figured it had died. I posted here and heard they can regrow the crown and they will lose it if stressed too much.

I got rid of the clown and two weeks later the duster emerged with a new crown. Now it is doing amazing.

cas · 10/29/2009, 11:29 AM

They lose their crown from stress. Leave it a lone and it will slowly grow a new crown. It is important to not stress it now as it is unable to feed until the crown is back.

corbett_n · 10/29/2009, 11:52 AM

mine grew back

10/29/2009, 09:22 AM	#1
VWMT Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Ct, USA Posts: 16	Featherless Feather Duster It was recommended that I move my feather duster out of the direct MH light, so I gently loosened it from the rock and placed it lower in the tank with some shadowing from above. The next day I found it's feathers on the other side of the tank. Thinking the tube must be dead, I tried to remove it. It pulled away from me and it's valve (at the end of the tube) moved. Thinking it must be alive I left it. It had the same reaction a couple of days later. Has anyone seen a feather duster eject it's feathers? Will it regenerate it's feathers?

10/29/2009, 10:31 AM	#2
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	Never heard of this myself. Are you sure you actually saw what you think you saw? __________________ "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" ~ Josh Billings Visit My Home page for current build thread (click my user name and select "Visit LordoftheReef's Homepage" in the drop down menu!

10/29/2009, 11:23 AM	#3
Frogmanx82 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,515	It happened to mine a couple months ago. I was moving it around too much trying to keep it away from the clown who was nipping it. The whole feather crown came off and I figured it had died. I posted here and heard they can regrow the crown and they will lose it if stressed too much. I got rid of the clown and two weeks later the duster emerged with a new crown. Now it is doing amazing. __________________ Exodus 8:2 Check my homepage for tank pics and details. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon, 2x maxspect R420R LED, 4 Ocellaris Clowns, Yellow Eye Kole Tang, Flame Angel, Foxface Rabbitfish, Banggai Cardinals, Azure Damsel, rock flower anemone, cleaner shrimp, serpent star

10/29/2009, 11:29 AM	#4
cas Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Arlington Hts., IL Posts: 748	They lose their crown from stress. Leave it a lone and it will slowly grow a new crown. It is important to not stress it now as it is unable to feed until the crown is back.

10/29/2009, 11:52 AM	#5
corbett_n Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SC Posts: 1,271	mine grew back