Feather Duster somethings wrong

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

 

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.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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.