Social feather duster

Care at a glance

The social feather duster grows in dense clumps of dozens of small, soft tubes packed together, each topped with its own brown-and-white striped crown of tentacles. That growth habit makes it the cheapest and easiest member of the feather duster family.

It multiplies on its own through reproduction and splitting, so a healthy clump expands by itself over the course of months. Wedge the clump between rocks in a shaded spot with moderate flow; extra fine food helps, but in an established reef tank with some detritus it manages fine without.

Good to know

• Filter feeder — needs fine suspended food

Related species

• Feather duster wormSabellastarte spectabilis
• Magnificent feather dusterSabellastarte magnifica
• Christmas tree wormSpirobranchus giganteus
• Green brittle starOphiarachna incrassata
• Brittle starOphiuroidea sp.
• Coco wormProtula bispiralis