Feather duster(s)?

CM1104 · Dec 12, 2021

Hello, I'm pretty hands off with this hobby, because... well my husband "volun-told" me into it. I really don't do much with his tanks except observe, feed, and clean the glass. I found one of the duster worms had been blown to the other side of the tank. I have no idea how long it's been out of it's tube. I assumed it was pretty shy bc it's so small/young, the tube about an inch, give or take, so that being said we don't/didn't see it very often. The other 2 dusters are doing great, but they're much larger. When I did see this little one, it appeared to be happy. (As far as I know, no one has messed it.)

I went to take it out and flush it, but it's still alive. I buried it's body in some sand up against the rock and left the filter end sticking up. It's tube is in a difficult place in the tank in addition to some decent current, which is obviously why it was blown away.

I noticed a weird pink almost transparent tube on the side of it's actual dark colored tube. Is this some kind of parasite or is it possibly turning into a cluster duster of sorts?? It does retract/close to movement and/or poking it, but then again, so does aptasia. I looked all around the tank for anything else that looked similar and found nothing.

Thoughts??

X-37B · Dec 12, 2021

Not sure about the pink part but they will grow another tube. Mine have done it several times.

CM1104 · Dec 12, 2021

90's reefer said:
Not sure about the pink part but they will grow another tube. Mine have done it several times.

Well that's great news!! I hope it makes it, bc this one is that cool looking purple and yellow.

X-37B · Dec 12, 2021

You have to be carefull moving them. Its best to find a place and leave them be.
You can rip the tube which will cause them to leave it.
They are filter feeders so feed the fish well and they are pretty easy to care for.

CM1104 · Dec 12, 2021

90's reefer said:
You have to be carefull moving them. Its best to find a place and leave them be.
You can rip the tube which will cause them to leave it.
They are filter feeders so feed the fish well and they are pretty easy to care for.

And that's what's weird. It's been in there for a while now. Brought it home, put it in 1 spot and it's been there since. No moving, no repositioning... I've never seen anything bothering or stressing it out. I'll be keeping a watchful eye on it now that it doesn't have any protection.