Feather Duster not opening?

My girlfriend got me a feather duster this weekend (isnt she the best?). I've had it in the tank for a few days now, and it has been open (or out, idk the proper term), a few times now. But for the most part it seems to stay in its tube. The most I have seen it open up is at night. Is this a sign that it's unhappy? Or is it normal?

 

It's normal for a featherduster to be a little reclusive for a while in a new environment. Just make sure it's in a lower-flow area and give it more time.

 

Yeah I kinda figured that was the case. It's in a pretty low flow area so hopefully it will start coming out everyday.

 

In addition to what Mr. Bill said, what are your nitrate levels? They don't care for high nitrates. What type of foods for filter feeders have you tried? (Phyto, oyster eggs, etc).

 

in addition to above 2 posts

feather dusters IME, if they like the area you have chosen for them, will spend some time at the very base of their tube secreting a glue like substance that bonds them securely to the rock/ hole/ ledge etc that you placed them in , under or on
this can be an activity that takes a bit of work over a few days, and it may even try to slightly change its orientation in terms of flow, by nudging itself sideways prior to forming the glue like bond.

when it does open, check the feathers can open fully without looking like the flow is putting a kink in them or bending them backwards
slight movement is OK, as that means flow will carry food to them
but you do not want them being buffeted to strongly as this will concern them for the integrity of their fishing net (feathers) and they will spend longer periods retracted IME.

Steve

 

Wow, thanks for the informative post! I had no idea, and now that you bring it up, the tube has actually shifted a bit since it was put in the tank. It is just buried in the sandbed, is that an ok spot? When it does open, the feathers dont seem to be seeing any flow, the flow in this tank isnt as strong as I want it to be in the first place.

 

Well, my nitrate levels have been pretty much stuck around 40ppm for a month.

 

Here is a pic I JUST snapped a few minutes ago. It was open for a bit but as I was trying to get a second picture it sucked back in as my foxface got close to it. This pic shows how it is placed in the sand.

 

Fether duster looks good insanespain. I had one a while back but my crabs wouldn't leave the tube alone and it eventually died. So keep an eye on that to. Sorry forgot to tell you the crabs actually ate the tube.

 

Thanks for the heads up. I havent noticed any around it yet, but if they pester it, I will move them to the sump.