Dwarf Colored Feather Duster

 Quick Care Facts

• Care Level: Easy   • Temperament: Peaceful   • Maximum Size: 4"
• Diet: Omnivore   • Aquarium Level: Substrate & Rocks   • Minimum Tank Size: 12 gallons
 • Reef Compatible: Yes   • Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025
• Supplements: None   • Coloration: White, Yellow, Tan, Pink
• Origin: Indo-Pacific • Family: Sabellidae   • Species: Fan Worms

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The Dwarf Colored Feather Duster is a filter feeding Fan Worm species with a fan-shaped crown that is pink, white, or yellow in color. The fan-shaped crown of this species grows usually to around 4 inches in diameter, and can vary quite a bit in colors and brightness of color. The Dwarf Colored Feather Duster uses its fan-shaped crown to filter out small floating organisms suspended within the water currents, which it directs toward its mouth, which is located at the center of the crown.

It protects its segmented body by secreting a parchment-like tube to cover itself and by partially burying itself within the substrate. When it is disturbed, it can quickly pull in its fan crown into its protective tube. If it is severely stressed, it will discard its crown, which it is able to grow back later.

The Dwarf Colored Feather Duster generally lives in the coral/sand rubble at the base of a reef aquarium, with some of the rubble being incorporated into its parchment-like tube. Dwarf Colored Feather Dusters need to be housed in a well-established reef system, as it is dependent upon suspended plankton in the water currents for the majority of its diet.

Placement of the this species in the aquarium is very important as it relies on the water currents for food; therefore, it should be placed where it will receive a relatively constant medium water flow. Like most marine invertebrate species the Dwarf Colored Feather Duster is very intolerant of copper-based medications or any level of copper present in the system.

Dwarf Colored Feather Dusters are a filter feeding species, meaning they get much of their nutrition from floating microorganisms such as plankton. In the aquarium environment it is usually necessary to provide supplemental feeding of phytoplankton and liquid organic foods to provide a complete and stable diet.

Placement and water movement are essential to the well being of the Dwarf Colored Feather Duster, so it should be placed in the substrate where it will receive a medium water flow, in which it can filter food stuffs from the current.