Why did the feather duster crawl out of its' tube?

[boxerfish]

First the feather dusters' top fell off. A day later he climbed out of the tube and is now cruising the bottom of the tank. What happened? Will it die or crawl back into the tube or grow a new one? It is really freaking me out b/c it's totally gross....help!

 

[racrumrine]

This can happen due to stress. If you do a search, you should be able to read up on this.

Best of luck,

Roy

 

[sirbooks]

If the worm has left the tube, it means that it's trying to set up shop somewhere else in the tank. This happens if it is being starved in one area. It is a last-ditch effort to stay alive.

If it is able, it will build a new tube and regrow its crown. However, most of the time in an aquarium the worm dies before this happens.