Feather Duster lost its "feathers"

[Fl_Seagull]

Wife when crazy in the LFS. She bought sereval soft corals (sea mat, xenia, and green star polyps, a large feather duster (actually a Sabellastarte Specctabills?) and a red serpent star along with "some cute emeral crabs."

Two days latter the feather duster has lost it "feathers" overnight. I don't know much about feather dusters. So the question are:

Is it dead? Will it regrow the "feathers?"

Likely cause?

NH4 0,
Nitrite 0,
Nitrates tested 0.2
Phophates 0.1

But smaller feather dusters (Bispira Tricyclia) in the tank are OK.

Small Xenia coral is open and pulsating.

Did a 10% water change.

Tank is 125 gal with 20 gal sump, 15 gal Ref. 150 lb of SD sand, ~120 LR

 

[Johnsteph10]

Lots of times when a featherduster is "stressed" it will shed its "feathers"....moving it to a new home is sure stressful. I would not worry about it...

Have you seen anything picking at it?
water parameters look pretty good...

I know I lose my feathers when I have to move. Big stressful life event.

P.S. - Please encourage your wife to research anything she might be interested in buying before you buy it. Makes life easier!

John

 

[Fl_Seagull]

I credit the LFS for not selling her more stuff!! :lol:

I had just installed 1800 gph close loop and the 15 ref. I was not quite ready to start stocking corals.

I have not seen anything picking at it. But, I also have been losing hermit crabs. As in finding empty shells and loose legs.

 

[Baianotang]

Good kind of wife.
It will grow back well almost always. Sabellastarte Specctabills is that the comon hawaian fd or is it a coco worm (chrismas tree worm)?
Cocos are MORE expencive up to $80 and much more demanding in the water quality department.
Others are very hardy.
Good luck.

 

[Fl_Seagull]

I think she paid ~$20 for it so it is likely to be a Sabellastarte Spectabills.

It is about 5" long and 3/8" dia. so it is a bit bigger than the coco. I have been told the coco is about 3" long max.

 

[Anonymous]

Target feed it and it should regrow its crown more quickly.