Feather Duster Questions

[kjb]

I have found some rather nice feather dusters growing in my sump which must have come in as hitchhikers recently among with some macros.
I want to move them up into the main tank and wonder how, besides carfully and gently, I should move them. Are they usually attached to substrate or rockwork? Will they break if I pick them up in the middle? etc, etc, etc.
I also wonder where they like to reside in a tank re: lighting and flow, and assume they prefer to sit in the sand??? Should I bury their base a bit or just drop it in the tank and let them settle on the surface of the sand?
Thanks.

 

[davelin315]

Are they calcerous tube worms or are they feather dusters that are making their homes out of detritus? They probably will not grow in your tank if they are calcerous tube worms, except in darker areas IME. As far as removing them, if they are calcerous, you'll more than likely kill the worm trying to remove it, although you could take a piece of rock and leave it there for a while until they start growing on the rock. Same thing for the soft tube worms, if you peel them off, you'll probably crush them or tear them in half, but you can do the rock trick with them as well. They're really not that well suited to living in your tank, as they make easy meals for anyone interested.

 

[kjb]

Not for sure but I don't think that these are the calcerous type. I have some in the main tank that are smaller and seem to grow their tubes right along the rock face. These do seem to be growing mostly in a shaded area, tho not dark. These have small white thin lashes.
The ones in the sump are about 4inches or more in length, are growing vertically and seem to have more feather shaped fans that are whitish with brown 'stripes'. They look like juvenile versions of those I have seen for sale in the LFS. Also seem to be seeking light, tho the sump is just poorly illuminated.
I really don't want to do any harm and would rather let them be. I know there will be a time soon when I need to disturb them as I prune back the macro growth. Maybe then I will try gently migrating just one to the main tank and see how that goes.
The rock trick sounds like a neat method, but I am not sure I could place a piece correctly with all the macro growing as it is.
Thanks Dave

 

[davelin315]

Sounds like you might have "feather dusters" in your sump for real. I was kind of skeptical, but if they're 4" long, and their crown is as you describe, sounds like they might be just what you think they are. If they are the larger ones, you should be able to peel one off of your glass without harming it. The difficulty lies in peeling off small specimens. If it's got a pretty good diameter, pencil thick or more, you should be able to remove it without harming it. You could also try to use a razor blade to cut one off the glass by sliding it in between the duster sheath and the glass. By seeming to reach towards the light, it's just growing upwards, as true feather dusters are non-photosynthetic (I know there's a technical term for that, but I don't know what it is).