Feather Duster leaving tube...

ok, I've been nursing this duster that lost his crown at the LFS the day I bought it for about a month. today it seems hell bent on being elsewhere.

there is some algae on the top of the tube blowing against his feathers, is this enough to make it want to relocate? How long does it take for them to rebuild a new tube when they move? How much are they at risk during this time?

You can see its location on the left side of the opening of the red rock on the right side of the tank.

could it be a water flow issue?

 

You have a water quality issue with all of that algae on your sand. Poor water quality can cause them to try and leave their tubes. Stress is another factor. With your water quality that worm is in stress. Your good Samaritan attempt may fail due to the water quality. You need nitrates to be around 5 or less and phosphates below .05. Your kits may show zeros but that is because the algae is using them up.

 

What are you params?

 

ph 8.3, nitrates 0, nitrites 0, ammonia 0

I have another thread going about the algae issue, having a problem getting my head around this outburst of algae.

Oh and I wasn't necessarily being a good samaritan the girl at the lfs just juggled him when she was taking him out of the tank when I was purchasing so it was coming home with me either way it just had a rough start.

 

It should have the feathers back by now if you have had it for a month. Mine dropped its and they were back in full glory within two weeks.

 

the feathers are about an inch long. In fact they have been growing quickly for the past week or so, seemed to double in size. It was pulled in a bit in that photo.

That's kind of what I'm thinking as well. Also I have four smaller dusters down to the left of the big one and they seem happy fully open just blowing in the breeze.

 

It is good that the feathers are growing. They do move around in their tube to get the best flow they can so I would leave it and see what it does. If it is growing feathers I doubt it will leave the tube.

 

Is there any chance that it's just extending the tube upwards to get into a better current?

Also it's still pretty quick to react when a hermit walks by and pull back into the tube all the way.

 

Yes it could be. Quick reaction is good.

 

Update the duster has made a full exit of its tube. Seems pretty active moving about, its moved into the same areas my smaller dusters are located and is propped up beside them.