Reef tank tube worms are small but colorful, always an interesting highlight in coral tanks. With unique shapes and colorful feathers, they not only contribute to increasing the aesthetics of the aquarium but also play an important role in the natural filtration system. So what are tube worms? How do they live and why are they loved by many people? Let’s find out with fishtankenthusiast.com through this article.
Raising reef tank tube worms
No doubt, a reef tank tubeworm wouldn’t be much without corals. But sometimes it’s the oddball non-coral invertebrates that really grab attention and make a unique show. This is certainly true in the case of marine tubeworms.
A beautiful tubeworm, known as the Christmas tree worm, lives in colonies that come in a variety of bright colors and interesting rock formations. To be clear, we’re not talking about tiny worm-like creatures here (roundworms, flatworms, etc.). We’re talking about actual worms (Phylum Annelida). Annelida is a large group (over 22,000 species!) that includes everything from bristle worms to leeches and earthworms. These animals are segmented, bilaterally symmetrical, and cavitated (a body cavity with a separate digestive tract).
Annelid worms have numerous paired, hair-like extensions made of chitin called chaetae. There are essentially two types of polychaetes, each in its own subclass: Errantia and Sedentaria. Errantia (e.g. fireworms) are typically sediment feeders while Sedentaria are typically filter feeders. More notably, the wandering polychaetes are free-moving while the sedentary types are usually confined to a tube or burrow. Parapodia are used to crawl across/through the seafloor or up and down the inner walls of a tube.
Because the filter feeding apparatus (i.e.crown) of many tube-dwelling marine worms is beautifully colored, these animals are highly prized in the aquarium trade. This includes both hard and soft tube-forming species.
Explore tubeworms
In general, soft tubeworms are easier to keep for long periods of time in captivity. Many common soft tubeworms belong to the family Sabellidae. Known as feathered worms, these worms have large feathery crowns and papery tubes. Some of the biggest and smallest tubeworms are found in this group. Many of the smaller species are gregarious (e.g., Bispira spp.). Some (but certainly not all) gregarious species are quite hardy and can establish themselves in aquariums when introduced through live rock. Some of the larger tubeworms (such as Sabellastarte magnifica from the Caribbean and Sabellastarte spectabilis from the Indo-Pacific) are quite spectacular.
The coconut tubeworm (Protula bispiralis) is one of the most common and demanding hard tubeworms. This species forms a solid limestone tube that can be over a foot long. A pair of conical, often red crowns protrude from the top. Although aquarists often prefer to place these animals so that they protrude into the open water column, they actually prefer more cryptic environments such as cave roofs or shady cliffs.
Many aquarists dream of successfully keeping a colony of Christmas tree worms (Spirobranchus spp.). These peculiar polychaetes are closely related to SPS corals, which are often Porites spp. Christmas tree worms appear to burrow into the coral skeleton; however, they actually inhabit the coral as larvae, and their hard tubes are constantly being crushed by the growing coral. Their name comes from the pointed cone shape of their crown and perhaps their bright color.
Aquarium Care for Tubeworms
It’s easy to want a tubeworm or a colony of tubeworms; the way the crown quickly retracts into the tube can easily astound any aquarist. However, it’s not always easy to care for tubeworms.
As mentioned, some of the smaller sabellid worms simply appear out of nowhere and don’t require any special care. They prefer areas with slower water currents where organic matter tends to settle. Since they feed primarily on detritus – organic detritus – they generally don’t need supplemental/extra food to survive. In fact, they act as natural mechanical filters.
Despite their sometimes enormous size, coconut worms require a large amount of very small living plankton to survive. Very few tanks (if any) contain a population density of resident picoplankton to support coconut worms; Therefore, regular supplementation with quality live foods containing bacterioplankton (e.g. PNS ProBio) – smaller phytoplankton such as Nannochloropsis (e.g. OceanMagik) is important. Animals should be provided with moderately strong water. Many tube-dwelling marine worms are highly valued in the aquarium trade due to the exquisite colors of their filter feeding device, or crown.
Christmas tree worms are certainly not much easier to keep than their coconut worm relatives over the long term, although this can be done in the right aquarium environment. Unfortunately, there is still much disagreement as to exactly what they eat. Some claim that they feed on the mucus excreted by their coral hosts, while others reject this claim.
Some also claim that these worms capture/consume smaller zooplankton, although this is also doubtful. They do appear to feed on at least some particulate organic matter. But the bulk of this animal’s diet appears to be phytoplankton. Most likely, a balanced mix of live plants (like the OceanMagik) will yield the best results. Especially if the colony is established on SPS corals, it is best placed in an area with very strong currents.
Conclusion
Worms are not only beautiful decorative creatures but also play an important role in maintaining the ecological balance of the coral reef tank. They help filter the water, provide food for other creatures and create a vibrant miniature ecosystem. Keeping worm tubes is not only a hobby but also a way for us to learn more about the diversity and wonder of the marine world.
