detaching feather duster from rock..?

[salty420]

ok so some of you may remember that i have a bit of a problem with my clowns attacking feather dusters. they have killed one and the other lives on covered by a plastic bottle. i recently added an anemone to the tank hoping that would distract the clowns enough to uncover the duster. though the clowns are now hosting the anem they still went right at the duster as soon as i took off the bottle i am so sick of the bottle i have to get it out of my tank. the problem is that though you can't tell it from above the sand the duster has glued itself to the LR under the sand. it's obvious the clowns will not leave it alone so i have got to move it. is it possible to cut the duster off the rock? im talking right at the rock where it's glued. i'd like to try to move it in front of a rock on the other side of the tank when they aren't looking i don't know why they hate the dusters but don't bug any of the corals in the tank..? im at wits end i feel so bad for this poor duster

 

[Max]

You'll have to cut it out of it's tube in order to detach it from the rock. You can use a razor blade etc. to do that but, you have to be VERY carefull. The body is very soft and easy to damage. You'll also have to make sure that the clowns and other fish and critters in your tank CAN'T get to it or it will die. The clowns don't hate the f.d. they are hosting in it as captive clown fish will often times do. Your only real option is physical seperation.
hth
Max
p.s.
I know I said this but, again after you remove it from it's tube it will be very, very easy to hurt or kill. You'll also have to be very, very careful and you still may kill it. However, it's going to starve to die if your clowns keep harassing it .

 

[salty420]

so i can't just use a blade to slice the glued on part off the rock? i was thinking if i slice right along the rock i wouldn't damage the worm... and i swear these clowns really do HATE the dusters cause they are happily hosting an rbta now... they are PSYCHO clowns they really do stare at the bottle trying to figure a way in to rip the duster apart! this isn't nice rubbing in you hosting behaviour this is biting and tearing you up behaviour. if i need to i can move the duster to the 29 gallon - right now it's in the 37 near the LR that they used to host (before i got the anem) so im thinking it's more a territorial thing... *confused*

 

[Max]

I suppose you could but, again it's impossible usually to tell exactly where the worm is and the more that it's disturbed the further down the tube it will go . Just be careful and I'll cross my fingers for you.l

 

[salty420]

wonder if i could sneak up on it and pinch the tube at the sand level - then i'd be sure it wasn't at the bottom of the tube... sneak up on a duster, ya right!

 

[antimatter]

Any luck with detaching it. I am curious to see how it turned out

 

[salty420]

no i'm a bit chicken, i admit... i don't want to hurt it, would be such a shame after living with it in a plastic bottle for months and months to protect it. i am actually considering the sneaking up on it idea. i think if i take of the bottle top and just reach in there and wait patiently i maybe able to squeeze the tube when it opens up. it may actually work... i think i'll give it a shot this weekend sometime. wish me luck!

 

[abeachgrl]

Actually, I can't have feather dusters because my CoralBandedButterfly Fish likes to eat them (and he won't eat a single aptasia!). I would love to have big beautiful feather dusters in my tank. Your bottled duster gave me an idea about creating a clear plasic housing with water flowing thru so they can be viewed and not eaten.
What do ya'll think?

 

[antimatter]

I think it could be done, mine hates direct flow though

 

[salty420]

Your bottled duster gave me an idea about creating a clear plasic housing with water flowing thru so they can be viewed and not eaten.
What do ya'll think?

it's a great idea tho it's hard for me to keep the bottle clean of algae. the snails still get in (through the slits - there are many and some are large holes) but they just don't keep the bottle clean. maybe with something smooth like a plexi-glass box it would be easier..? the duster really likes being covered tho, it helps to block some of the water flow. you should try it and let us know, maybe it would inspire others who can't keep dusters in their tank to get 'em and cover 'em up!