Cocoworms and Fan worms-experiences?

[Mike02]

I just got a cocoworm and feather duster last nite from flyingfishexpress. I'm going to dose DTs to feed these. I wanted to hear peoples experiences about keeping these alive and how long they've lived. I have a 10g, 72 watt PC aquarium. I noticed that when i turn on the lights, the feathers of both these worms withdraw. i dont know if they stay that way the whole time the lights are on, but i'll find out today. Any info/experiences that anybody can provide, i would appreciate. i already have small feather dusters that came on the rock. theyve been alive the whole time i've had this tank (7+ months). Also will a peppermint shrimp bother the cocoworm? my peppermint ate one of my ricordia polyps about 3 wks ago. thanks in advance

 

[slojmn1]

Here is my experience with a beautiful cocoworm. I found that this worm preferred a shaded area in my tank, so I placed him under an overhang. He would then come out a lot more. He was quite spectacular for the first three months. I dosed Dt's, cryopaste, and golden pearls in some varied combo about 2 times per week. After the first three months I started noticing a decline in how often the worm was out. After 4 months he lost his crown. My tank params were realy good, full reef with clams, sps, and some lps. Some phosphates may be in the system as turf algae has been my nemisis. This algae never bothers the corals or my coco worm for that matter. It grew its feathers back within about 2 weeks. It was a slow process to get the layered look to the feathers, but eventually they did come back. Meanwhile this worm was withdrawn so much of the time that I worried about it. Eventually at about the 7 month mark the worm catapulted his tube and was dead. I did a bit of research and found a thread stating that Dr. Ron believes we do not have the right nutritional requirements in high enough doses in our home aquariums to keep the coco worms alive long term. This info may be found soemwhere on Reef Central where Dr. Ron has a forum. I would do a search over there in his forum and see what you find. I am not sure if this info applies to fan worms as well, I have never kept a fan worm. Not to be downer

or anything but this was my experience, a basic slow demise despite Dt's, cryopaste, and golden pearls. I hope you have a better experience, these little guys are expensive. I think I paid $60.00 for my coco worm at my lfs, which does have really inflated prices, but still they are expensive. I don't think I'll be getting another one of these guys until I hear about a lot of people having long term success, like a couple years or more. It is always good to ask questions like this prior to purchaing an animal that you may not know so much about. Then, at least, you are making an informed purchase both the good and the bad. It is a bummer to get something and then find out it may most likely die in your system. I am not saying this will happen to your worms, it s just good to research before purchase. Again, good luck and I hope you have a long lived and healthy cocoworm and fan worm. BTW, Here is a shot of him in his glory days, what a beauty.

[ January 12, 2002: Message edited by: slojmn1 ]</p>

 

[Tremelle]

I have had 2 feather dusters in my tank for over 2 years. I don't target feed them and they have thrived over this period of time. I guess they get enough to eat from mysis and brine shrimp juices that I feed to the fish. The 2 dusters have tubes that are exposed 2 inches above the substrate, and about 3 inches under the rocks they attached themselves too. I have found them to be a low maintenance addition to my tank.

[ January 12, 2002: Message edited by: Tremelle ]</p>

 

[slojmn1]

I do believe the feather duster variety may in fact be much more hardy in our aquariums than the coco worms. Heck, I have a ton of small feather dusters and they thrive. My above comments were soley based on my experience with the coco worm. Tremelle, I am glad to hear that you have had such great success wiht the two feather dusters you have. Makes me tempted to try one of those next time I get the hankering to buy a new critter for my tank

 

[Mike02]

well, heres an update. these worms come out under the lights. they just didnt like me turning on the lights when it was dark in the tank. my tank gets indirect light from a nearby window. my lights come on at 10:30am. as long as the light source builds up gradual, they dont withdraw, at least not for very long.

 

[JeremyR]

I've had a couple of cocoworms in my reef display for a good year now, always out and have grown. Lots of natural food in the tank.. it's been my experience that if your tank grows little dusters and sponge in and around the rock, that you can suport a cocoworm fine. I do not target feed them, or use DT's or cryopaste, but I do feed golden pearls.

 

[Mike02]

Jeremy, where do you get Golden Pearls and what size do you buy? i noticed that the particles are sold in different sizes. I wonder if feather dusters eat baby brine shrimp. It would be alot easier feeding golden pearls though

 

[slojmn1]

Jeremy, that is great to hear. Funny though, I have tons of feather dusters and major sponge action in and amongst my live rock and I could not keep my guy alive

 

[JeremyR]

The golden pearls I buy are the 2 smallest sizes, I get them from brineshrimpdirect.com.