shedding feather duster body

[camineet]

Hi all, we've got a feather duster that's shedding black things that look like mouse droppings from the surface of its body. What's going on here?

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Hi all, we've got a feather duster that's shedding black things that look like mouse droppings from the surface of its body. What's going on here?

It looks to me that this worm has shed it protective tube. They sometimes grow new ones, but often, that is a sign that they are on their way out. Conversely, I've also had tube worms stay in their tube, but lose their crown. In some case, they can regrow those. Long term survival of the large species of feather dusters is rare.

Jay

 

[camineet]

I see. Thanks for the guidance.