Feather Duster somethings wrong

[vlash7]

I just got a feather duster for my tank a few days ago, it seem to be doing fine then yesterday I notice a gaint hole or gash on its body, like it was attack or something. Now I had just put in a couple or scarlets, an emeral green crab and a coral shrimp that same day. Whats werid is I don't know if the duster is dead or something. I don't want to kill it if its still alive. Right now its feathers are falling off one by one and its entire body its getting covered in a clear hiar like gel. I only have a 12 gal and if it is dead then it needs to be removed or my niteres will short through the roof and kill everything else. But I don't know if it is dead o not. Please help

[bldblu_2]

If it is covered in slime I would be concerned also. I only mine was dead by pulling him to the surface and smelling it. Try that.

[rickzter]

When you try to scare it, does it pull it's crown in? If not, chances are it's dead.

[vlash7]

thanks guys, I did some research and had a friend come over. He said it looks like its growing a new tube and crown so it should be fine, he told me to check it in a few days so hopfully it will live. Thanks

[MacnReef]

This is generally normal behavior for a feather duster but be warned that in small reefs or any reef tank for that matter, dusters have a hard time creating a new tube if infact it is completely overhauling its living space...

Mike

[karlas]

If there not happy with where they are at in the tank they can shed there feathers move to another spot and build another tube. I had one that did this it moved like 3 times before it found its happy home.