Hi, I was just wondering if anybody could tell me what is happening to my giant feather duster worm please. I checked the other posts but couldn't find the exact problem I have so I thought it best to start a new thread. So...the tank has been running since beginning April, 60litres, stable params (ammonia, nitrites and nitrates all 0, pH is between 8.0 and 8.2 I think. Sorry, test is difficult to read) and the feather duster has been in for a couple of weeks with no problems really. It is extending a little too far out of the tube (say a centimetre or so) and its crown is curling at the ends. I have fed liquid invert food occasionally and brine shrimp a couple of times per week but I haven't actually seen him eat any of the shrimp. Oddly enough, my aiptasia (pet anemone!! Don't ask.) has moved away from him and I am wondering if there is a clash between them. Perhaps the feather duster has been stung? Other possibilities that I could think of are an increase in temperature over the past week with the hot weather - max 79 deg. Also, I have noticed my hermits, snails, sexy shrimp and cleaner shrimp all trying to 'clean' him. Usually he permits this, but sometimes retracts, especially when the cleaner tries to clean his crown!!
The thing is, it could be so many different things causing him to stress, how do I know which it is? I am supposed to be doing a water change over the next few days but I don't want to make the problem worse. Also, if he is going to shed his crown and leave the tube, what do I need to provide to enable him to regrow? My substrate is ceramic media with live rock on top but I do have some shells if they need crushing for the purpose. His tube is not entirely smooth, looks a little cracked but it's hard to tell if it's really cracked or just irregular as he has built it. Hoping the tube hasn't been damaged by the cuc. Any offers of help gratefully received!!
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