Christmas tree worm

Care at a glance

The Christmas tree worm bores into living stony coral and extends two spiral crowns of tentacles that look like tiny fir trees. At any movement they snap back into the rock in a fraction of a second.

What you buy is therefore not a loose worm but a piece of coral with worms in it; that coral colony has to stay alive, or the worms will die too. That makes it a species for a mature reef tank with good lighting, stable parameters, flow and regular fine plankton or filter feed.

Good to know

• Filter feeder — needs fine suspended food

Related species

• Coco wormProtula bispiralis
• Magnificent feather dusterSabellastarte magnifica
• Social feather dusterBispira brunnea
• Spaghetti wormLoimia medusa
• Feather duster wormSabellastarte spectabilis
• Maxima clamTridacna maxima