A worm with high fashion and practical utility: Have you ever kept feather dusters in your reef aquarium?

[Peace River]

A worm with high fashion and practical utility: Have you ever kept feather dusters in your reef aquarium?

Whether the feather dusters showed up in your reef aquarium as hitchhikers or through intentional introduction, they add something unique and even magical to an aquarium setting. Feather dusters come in a range of colors and patterns and their movement as they filter the water for food is enjoyable to watch. Good water quality, stability of the water parameters, and a slow transition can all help with maintaining the health of these creatures as well as maintaining them in areas of moderate light and flow. Additionally, protection and gentle treatment of their tubes is also important. Because they tend to stay retracted when the conditions are less-than-optimal, they can also be effective indicators for the observant reef keeper to identify potential issues. What about your tank – have you ever kept feather dusters in your reef aquarium? Please tell us about your experience in the related discussion and we’d love to see pictures of your feather dusters!

Photo by @Exclusive Corals


This QOTD is sponsored by: www.topshelfaquatics.com

“Top Shelf Aquatics helps you feel confident in the quality, reliability, and consistency of getting everything you need for a perfect saltwater aquarium. From corals and fish to inverts and aquarium supplies, you can count on us to provide you with a seamless reefing experience.”

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

I mean, not intentionally

 

[Mechano]

I have unintentional feather dusters , but never intentionally put in the system as I have too many critters that will likely kill the fancy types

 

[Readywriter]

Had some huge ones that came in on live rock but never bought one.

 

[AlyciaMarie]

I mean, not intentionally

Yep, same here!

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Absolutely!! I had this one for years before breaking down this particular tank and it was incredibly easy to care for like other feather dusters, inexpensive, and even came on a big chunk of live rock completely encrusted with coralline algae! How can anyone say this worm isn't absolutely beautiful even in a picture which isn't great?!

 

[Tavero]

I do have a Christmas tree rock of that counts (porites + symbiotic worms)

 

[Jasonak]

I have the little white and red ones that came in on live rock years ago.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Feather duster or coco worms are in my plans for the future

 

[Lemons]

I always get hundreds of little hitch hiker fanworms but the one time i tried a coco worm, my old clown murdered it :/

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

I do have a Christmas tree rock of that counts (porites + symbiotic worms)

Nice! I've kept Christmas Tree Worms in the past as well. My experience (and I've heard others have had the same experience) is that it's difficult to keep the Porites colorful and healthy for worm species in the Spirobranchus genus that tend to favor them as hosts. I'd be curious whether other Christmas Tree Worm species that host different coral species or choose nonliving substrate to settle on and grow would be easier for the typical hobbyist to keep healthy. I absolutely love them except for the fact that I've only seen or ever even heard of one way they're collected which I'm really not a fan of. Hopefully one day soon they'll be able to be bred in captivity to avoid harming the host coral!

 

[GARRIGA]

Find these more fascinating than most corals since they are more active and sole reason to seek some live rock hoping they are attached.

 

[kevgib67]

I have a large red and white feather duster worm purchased from my lfs.

 

[Evil1]

I have many. Original must have hitched a ride on a frag or live rock. Love them. Best of all they help keep my nutrients in check and look good doing it!

 

[ReefLegends]

I love feather dusters, coco worms and Christmas tree rocks. I currently have a system setup to clean up Christmas tree rocks, wile enriching them before sending them off to forever homes.

 

[LeDart]

I have a whole lot of itsy bitsy little itty bitty ones idk what they're called but they are cute, they look like feather dusters though.

 

[Tavero]

Nice! I've kept Christmas Tree Worms in the past as well. My experience (and I've heard others have had the same experience) is that it's difficult to keep the Porites colorful and healthy for worm species in the Spirobranchus genus that tend to favor them as hosts. I'd be curious whether other Christmas Tree Worm species that host different coral species or choose nonliving substrate to settle on and grow would be easier for the typical hobbyist to keep healthy. I absolutely love them except for the fact that I've only seen or ever even heard of one way they're collected which I'm really not a fan of. Hopefully one day soon they'll be able to be bred in captivity to avoid harming the host coral!

The porites species usually stays brown. The only time it got a green tint was when my nutrients bottomed out. But this is dangerous for my other corals. It also grows extremely slowly, 5-10mm per year max. The worms one the other hand are simple to keep. I don't feed a lot of phytoplankton but I also don't have a lot of filtration.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

The porites species usually stays brown. The only time it got a green tint was when my nutrients bottomed out. But this is dangerous for my other corals. It also grows extremely slowly, 5-10mm per year max. The worms one the other hand are simple to keep. I don't feed a lot of phytoplankton but I also don't have a lot of filtration.

Yeah, I never had a problem with the worms, I preferred keeping my nutrients low which I think the Porites appreciated. The worms are simply suspension feeders which I had already researched before buying so I was prepared. They're truly fascinating little creatures imo! Like I mentioned previously, I just hope in the near future they can induce spawning in captivity to avoid the way they have to collect them.

 

[krollins]

Do spiniod worms count?

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Do spiniod worms count?

I think we're counting any annelids here haha... Christmas Tree Worms aren't feather dusters either...post pics!

Edit: I just realized you're likely talking about undesirable spinoid worms haha