Hard Tube Feather Duster (Coco) Worms - Protula bispiralis .
This is a very large single head specimen with curved hard (like clam shell) tube averaging about 8 inches (from tube end to curve top) & super colored glowing head. It's a double head with a spread of about 3 inches when fully out.
These are the most beautiful tube worms. The worm's body stays inside the tube. The beautiful feathery top is the worm's head which picks up food particles from the water column. If touched or senses danger it will retract lightening fast into it's tube for safety. If it is stressed, these Feather Dusters can drop its crown then grow it back later.
NEVER take this Feather Duster (or any other for that matter) out of the water!! If air gets trapped inside their tube it can kill them.
Special Acclimation is needed! With tank lights off, do not open their bag & float for 15 minutes to equalize any temperature difference. After 15 minutes, open the bag, check the bag salinity with a refractometer & if your tank is more than 2 degrees different than their bag DOUBLE the acclimation! Continue to float & gently start adding some of your tank water to the bag. On average the bags I use for them will need 1/2 cup every 15 minutes - do this for an hour then submerse the entire bag under your tank water and gently take them out of the bag & place in a low area of your tank (stick in the sand with head up or in a rock crevice) where there is more food source for them. My water is reef water & is totally safe to add to your tank.
Note: We never target feed them but you can help them by "storming" your tank once or twice a week. Storming is where we take a turkey baster & gently blow the detritus & plankton material from our rock crevices. Doing so suspends the material making it accessible to the worm(s). Be sure not to storm too close to the worm itself or you could hurt it.
