Headless feather duster

**Dragonwolf** · 03-14-2009, 08:34 AM

One of my feather duster worms lost his whole feather duster, just fell off, lost his head so to speak. The worm is still in his tube...will he grow a new "head" or should I send him to the landfill. He was one of my favorites - deep purple color. I know they can lose some of their feathers..but the whole head??

**Skurvey Dog** · 03-14-2009, 10:08 AM

I have a featherduster that lost his crown/head also. Within a month or so he did produce another one. The new one was not as intricate as the original, but as time went by, it grew and became matured into the one that he/she lost. Please be sure to do a generous spot feeding with him several times a week with phytoplankton to insure that he is getting enough to eat as he will not have all the tools to catch the "quanity" of food as he did before while he is growing and replacing the growth lost. Do not give up on him, he is in the regeneration mode.

**Dragonwolf** · 03-14-2009, 10:18 AM

Thanks Skurvey---I'll leave him in the tank and keep an eye on him.

**Skurvey Dog** · 03-14-2009, 10:57 AM

Dragon, was he is good health otherwise before he lost his crown? That could play a role in how well he recoups. I have not studied up too much on them, but my thoughts tend to make me believe that they could live off of stored resources while they are growing the new make-shift crown to present. I could be wrong of course. That was just my own observation.

**Dragonwolf** · 03-14-2009, 11:17 AM

Yeah, he seemed to be OK, I got him/her from a reputable shop but its only been in my tank/fuge for 2 weeks, BUT, he never really fully extended his head all the way like my other dusters. Maybe I should have given him some Viagra.

**PhotoJohn** · 03-14-2009, 03:27 PM

when introduced to new systems/ripped from the ocean and transported the worms experience stress and can and often do drop their heads. Mine did not drop his head he only hid for 2-3 days. I fond it a bit odd that yours dropped its head after two weeks. I think it will probably be fine as long as it didnt die and that is what caused it to drop the head.

**CarmieJo** · 03-15-2009, 09:05 AM

It is odd that this happened after 2 weeks. What are you water parameters? Have you recently done a water change? If so what percentage and did the parameters of the tank and water change match?

**Dragonwolf** · 03-15-2009, 09:25 AM

Calcium. 450
mag. 1300
nitrites 0
nitrates 10
phos. 0
PH 8.1 morning
PH 8.3 afternoon
alk. 4
Water is fine, I do 25 g. change every week. As I remember, the "girl" at the LFS had a hard time getting him off a rock and maybe she injured him/her..I suppose it's a wait and see what happens.

**Dragonwolf** · 03-28-2009, 07:51 AM

Well ---- Just a follow-up. He did grow a new head and it started peeking out a few days ago. Not as big as the original but he's ALIVE! His new "duster" is the same color.