Christmas Tree Worm Rock
(Spirobranchus porites)
QUICK STATS
Care Level: Difficult
Temperament: Peaceful
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.023-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
Max. Size: 1″
Color Form: Assorted
Diet: Omnivore
Origin: Indonesia
Family: Serpulidae

The Christmas Tree Worm, or Jewel Stone, was first described by scientists in 1766. Its crown comes in a variety of different colors, but is always paired. Usually, just the crown, which is spiraled in the shape of a Christmas tree, is seen; its body is hidden within the host coral. It has an operculum (top trap door) that covers its tube when it withdraws its crown. There are often several Christmas Tree Worms in the same area, though they do not live in close groups.

The Christmas Tree Worm is somewhat shy of movement and prefers to be in the shade of rocky overhangs, out of the bright light. It is very intolerant of copper-based medications.

Breeding in the home aquarium is very rare.

Since it is purely a filter feeder, the diet of the Christmas Tree Worm should be supplemented with liquid plankton-based foods.

The Christmas Tree Worm is normally shipped with several individuals attached to a small peice of live rock or rubble.

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Hard Tube Coco Worm
(Protula bispiralis)
QUICK STATS
Care Level: Difficult
Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Compatible: Yes
Waterflow: Low to Medium
Placement: Bottom
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.023-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
Max. Size: 7″
Color Form: Orange, Red, White, Yellow
Diet: Filter Feeder
Supplements: Calcium, Magnesium, Strontium, Trace Elements
Origin: Indo-Pacific
Family: Serpulidae

The Hard Tube Coco Worm, also known as the Hard Tube Feather Duster, Protula Tubeworm, or Hard Tubeworm, has a crown that can be white, yellow, orange, pink, or red. The radioles may be banded or patterned. Younger Hard Tube Coco Worms have bi-lobed crowns, while the crowns of older individuals are spiraled.

The Hard Tube Coco Worm secretes a calcareous tube, approximately 1/2 inch in diameter and 5-8 inches long, to house its vulnerable worm body. When disturbed, it can quickly retract its crown and close its operculum to shut the top of its tube. It usually anchors its tube in a crevice of the rocky reef or in the gravel along current-swept reef slopes. It uses the radioles to filter out floating plankton.

The aquarium for the Hard Tube Coco Worm should be well-established and contain a rock and gravel substrate. The Hard Tube Coco Worm requires calcium and the proper alkalinity to grow. It is extremely intolerant of poor water quality and copper-based medications.

In the aquarium it is difficult to maintain, and will need supplements of phytoplankton and liquid organic foods.

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Feather Duster
(Sabellastarte sp.)
QUICK STATS
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Waterflow: Medium
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.023-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
Max. Size: 7″
Color Form: Orange, Tan
Diet: Omnivore
Origin: Hawaii, Indo-Pacific
Family: Sabellidae

The Feather Duster, also known as Giant Feather Duster, has a fan-shaped crown (radiole) that is tan or orange with brown band colorations. The radiole of some species from certain locales may be up to 7 inches in diameter, or of brighter colors.

The Feather Duster uses the radiole to filter out small floating organisms, which it directs toward its mouth, located at the center of the crown. It protects its segmented body by secreting a parchment-like tube to cover itself. When it is disturbed, it can quickly pull in its radiole into the tube. If it is severely stressed, it will discard its crown, growing it back later.

The Feather Duster is usually found in the coral rubble at the base of the reef aquarium, with some of the rubble being incorporated into its parchment-like tube. It needs to be housed in a well-established reef system as it is dependent upon plankton for its diet. It is very intolerant of copper-based medications.

Supplemental feeding of phytoplankton and liquid organic foods should be provided.

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Dwarf Feather Duster
(Bispira sp.)
QUICK STATS
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Waterflow: Medium
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.023-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
Max. Size: 4″
Color Form: Red, White, Yellow
Diet: Omnivore
Origin: Indo-Pacific
Family: Sabellidae

The Dwarf Colored Feather Duster is exquisite in both form and shape. Its fan-shaped radiole is a gorgeous pink, white, or yellow color that dresses any aquarium. Because it will grow only up to 4″, this species of Bispira is suited for any sized aquarium.

Like other members of the Sabellidae family, the Dwarf Colored Feather Duster uses its radiole to filter out small floating organisms, which it directs toward its mouth, located at the center of the crown. The Dwarf Colored Feather Duster protects its segmented body by secreting a parchment tube to cover itself. When it is disturbed or threatened, it can quickly pull its radiole into the tube. If the Dwarf Colored Feather Duster is severely stressed, it will discard its crown, growing it back later.

The Dwarf Colored Feather Duster is usually found in the coral rubble at the base of the reef, with some of the rubble being incorporated into its parchment-like tubes. It requires a well-established reef system since it is dependent upon floating plankton for its diet.

Supplemental feeding of phytoplankton and liquid organic foods should be provided. Like other invertebrates, the Dwarf Colored Feather Duster is very intolerant of copper-based medications and fluctuations in water parameters.

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Hawaiian Feather Duster
(Sabellastarte sp.)
QUICK STATS
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Waterflow: Medium
Placement: Bottom
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.023-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
Max. Size: 7″
Color Form: Orange, Tan
Diet: Omnivore
Origin: Hawaii
Family: Sabellidae

The Hawaiian Feather Duster is a fascinating addition to the reef aquarium. Considered both a feeding device and a breathing gill, the stunning crown (radiole) unfurls in all directions and sways gracefully as if keeping time with the current. The fan-shaped crown of the Hawaiian, or Giant Feather Duster is tan or orange with brown band colorations. The radiole of some species from certain locales may be up to 7 inches in diameter, or of brighter colors.

The Hawaiian Feather Duster uses the radiole to filter out small floating organisms, which it directs toward its mouth located at the center of the crown. It protects its segmented body by secreting a parchment-like tube to cover itself. When the Hawaiian Feather Duster is disturbed, it can quickly retract its radiole into the tube. If it is severely stressed, the Hawaiian Feather Duster will discard its crown, growing it back later.

The Hawaiian Feather Duster is often positioned within the coral rubble at the base of the reef aquarium. Reef rubble is often incorporated into the parchment-like tube of the Hawaiian Feather Duster. It needs to be housed in a well-established reef system, as it is dependent upon plankton for its diet. The Hawaiian Feather Duster is very intolerant of copper-based medications.

Supplemental feeding of phytoplankton and liquid organic foods should be provided.

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