Tube worm - Feather Duster Question

One thing I found interesting in regards to both hard tube and soft
tube worms is they start a tube of correct diameter from the start.
They do not start off with a small diameter tube
outgrow it and then discard it and start a new larger diam tube. The
tubes they are found in are the original tube they first started as a
baby. They just make em longer not wider, although there are some
examples of a bit of variance in diameters in some hard tube worms.
I found this hard to visualize when I was told this. It was at the
last MACNA convention during a seminar there that I heard this from
IIRC Anthony Calfo.

Those tiny worms that are so abunbant in most tanks will never get any
larger in diameter than they are now......they are quite prolific and
do propagate readily in short order.

All other sources I have in regards to propagation basically rules out
fission. Its mainly when they cast off eggs. I had a good article on
them and breeding, if I can only find it.....duh!

Just be sure to keep calcium levels up with the coco (hard) type
worms for best results.

I have a huge red / white coco, and a short time back acquired a nice
smaller orange and blue coco.

On Thu, 01 Feb 2007 22:38:17 +0000, Gill Passman
wrote:

atomweaver wrote:


Sprung says that fission in feather dusters is "nearly an
impossibility" because of their calcerous tube...


It could be a double crown....but there are two distinct
"mouths".....when I first saw it I thought it was just a double
crown....but then I spotted the two mouths and now I'm not sure....

...but then, "nearly" an impossibility leaves a chance for possibility,
doesn't it? :-) I'd photograph and document your observations, Gill.
You might be seeing something which happens only rarely (or is at least
atypical).

Taking pics but just wish my photography skills were
better.....observation will be the key I guess


Since a feather duster can leave its tube, and make the beginnings of
a new home in about 10-16 hours, I'd be willing to bet thats what will
happen once the fission is complete. If you have an alternate home for
any potential worm predators in the tank, you might want to move them,
at least until BarryClone finds a new spot to settle in, and hardens up
a bit.

The tank has some hermits, some snails, some corals, a sea urchin and a
couple of clownfish that seem determined to try and spawn without any
better results than making them aggressive enough to bite my hand if I
get too close to any potential spawning site - but they are still
young....they tend to leave Barry alone....preferring the button polyps
and at a pinch taking a chunk out of the Xenia....

Anyway I guess it is watch this space....it is the two "mouths" that
have got my curious.....I would expect just one mouth if it was a double
crown but then I'm still a newbie so don't really know what to expect....

Gill



DaveZ
Atom Weaver



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I forgot more about ponds and koi than I'll ever know!