Do feather dusters need to be spot fed?

[SauceyReef]

If one has ample nutrients in their tank, do feather dusters need to be spot fed?
I would love to add feather dusters or gorgonians, but don't want to change my feeding system.


I wonder how long feather dusters can even live in a tank..

 

[blaxsun]

Not really. They generally "perk up" whenever food of any kind is dispensed, and they fairly adept at snagging meals whenever they're hungry.

As long as you don't have anything picking or poking at them, they can survive for years.

 

[Salty_Northerner]

When it comes to feather dusters why myself look at them like the little crustacean that lives on some of my snail shells that have a feather duster poking out. I noticed when I got the shell that the snail that I received with my cuc when I got started died a few days later and I just left the shell in the tank and now I have four feather dusters on the shell. They were just small to begin with and now they're getting to be a nice size especially they're Fuller looking when they're opened up. I do add that Red Sea AB plus twice a week but only half of the recommended dosage and every day I add a small amount of ocean magic for my pods and ever since then that's when I've noticed those small feather dusters for getting Fuller and thicker and seem to be enjoying sitting on the bottom of the tank enjoying your life on a dead snail shell LOL

 

[JCM]

Not really. They generally "perk up" whenever food of any kind is dispensed, and they fairly adept at snagging meals whenever they're hungry.

As long as you don't have anything picking or poking at them, they can survive for years.

I was under the impression they are filter feeders which need phytoplankton regularly to survive?

I've never been able to keep one long term, though maybe thats just bad luck on my part.

 

[Rp8]

Haven’t had one live longer than 2yrs. But as long as they are in a spot where dispersed food will flow, they will get sufficient nutrients.

 

[blaxsun]

I was under the impression they are filter feeders which need phytoplankton regularly to survive?

I've never been able to keep one long term, though maybe thats just bad luck on my part.

Yes, they are filter feeders. Anything in the water column is fair game (similar to porcelain crabs). I've had ones live for well over a year (depends on a lot of factors, mainly not having any fish that are keen on them).

 

[JCM]

Yes, they are filter feeders. Anything in the water column is fair game (similar to porcelain crabs). I've had ones live for well over a year (depends on a lot of factors, mainly not having any fish that are keen on them).

I didn't realize they'd eat larger particles. I got about a year out of my last one, assumed their natural lifespan is significantly longer but that's not based on any actual knowledge.

 

[blaxsun]

I didn't realize they'd eat larger particles. I got about a year out of my last one, assumed their natural lifespan is significantly longer but that's not based on any actual knowledge.

I've seen them pick off brine and tiny pieces of mysis.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

As mentioned, these guys don't need spot fed as long as there's enough food in the water column for them to feed on. That said, they should grow better when fed phyto species like Isochrysis galbana or Chaetoceros muelleri (Dunaliella tertiolecta would probably work as well, but, from what I've seen, it's likely nutritionally inferior for the worms when compared to the other two listed).

 

[SauceyReef]

Thanks! I tried one or two in the past and they didnt last longer than a year. Ive really gotten ahold of my nutrients so I would like to try a couple more. Dosing phyto just causes nutrient balance problem in my small tank so I will just stick to my normal feeding pattern.

Are Gorgonians the same way? As long as nutrients are stable they dont need spot fed? I know its that way with clams.

 

[vetteguy53081]

If one has ample nutrients in their tank, do feather dusters need to be spot fed?
I would love to add feather dusters or gorgonians, but don't want to change my feeding system.


I wonder how long feather dusters can even live in a tank..

Thet are filter feeders that rarely go hungry and are hardy . If annoyed by tankmates, will abandon their tubes

 

[Court_Appointed_Hypeman]

I tried to spot feed mine, they just shoot back in, I broadcast feed spirulina powder reef roids reef chilli and live phyto in small amounts, some daily some every 2 days and they are thriving.