Feather duster feeding

[jimcroce21]

I picked up a feather duster this weekend that is in my main tank at the moment and will go into the fuge once it is connected (hopefully this weekend). I've heard conflicting advice on the feeding of these guys. Some say that they are filter feeders and need no supplemental feeding where as elsewhere I've been told that DT's should be fed bi-weekly. Outside of bristle and spaghetti worms, snail and crabs, I have no other invertebrates or corals in the tank. The pod population is quite healthy. Are the pods food enough, or should I supplement?

Thanks

 

[Len]

Medium to large feather dusters, such as the commonly available Sabellastarte that you probably have, will feed on phytoplankton, so adding it is probably a good idea. These larger dusters will also eat small pods and animal larvae, so a refugium definitely helps. Bacteria may also be a source of nutrition. Rotifers or golden pearls are good supplemental food. You can add them to the tank, or target-feed them to the duster.

So yes, they are filter feeders, but it's a good idea to provide them foods since more often then not, there isn't enough natural nutrition in an aquarium for feather dusters to feed off of.

 

[jimcroce21]

Thanks Len, I appreciate the input.