Feather duster a goner?

[Rippin]

I have a large feather duster that recently lost it's "feathers" and crown.
I did the squeeze test on the tube to see if it was still alive. Thinking that it was dead because I didn't feel any twitching response I pulled the tube out of the aquarium. It was really secured in the substrate but I managed to get the whole thing out, but there was no worm in the tube. I then looked ot the base of the live rock and there it was, all exposed. I touched it but it didn't move, so I thought it was dead, but yesterday I put the flashlight on it and it recoiled.

Alive or dead?

What are the chances of recovery seeing that there is no tube left?

If it is dead should I really try to dig it out from under the live rock? It would most probaly mean dismantling a whole bunch of rock to get to it...or would the clean-up crew (bristle, peanut, other creepy-crawlers) take care of it for me?

BTW, I do supplement the tank with phyto, rotifers etc.

 

[billsreef]

If it recoiled, it's still alive and just might rebuild a tube and grow a new crown

 

[Trip 22]

It will hide on it's own....rebuild a tube and crown and it will return. That's what mine did

 

[dustin323]

Mine took about 2 weeks to grow back its crown.

 

[Trip 22]

I bought a new one....its missing in action. Shed its tube which was barely there and hasn't been seen since. That was about 2 weeks ago. I will keep you updated!
Marci

 

[Rippin]

Thanks for the reply all,

Seeing that mine lost it's crown and I ditched it's tube, I would think that it would take a substantial amont of time for this feather duster to grow everything back, if it doesn't die first.

 

[Trip 22]

Have Faith Rippin...it will come back...give it time!!!!!

 

[dustin323]

They fall off due to stress or starvation though, so that is something to look into. I now feed mine phytoplankton.