Christmass Tree worms (Spirobranchus giganteus)

Doo · #1 05-26-2008, 04:51 AM

I picked up a rock this passed week and I have been trying to find good info of keeping these cool worms.

What do they like as far as flow, light and conditions...

All I have found on the net so far is studies on them but nothing related to keeping them in an aquarium.

If anyone knows of a good site or has kept them in the past, please let me know what you know

Thank you!

Keri · #2 05-26-2008, 04:55 AM

I believe the worms themselves require no special lights, but supplemental feeding with something like DT's would probably be good as they are filter feeders BUT...the "rock" they live in is covered in live coral which does have very high lighting needs, MH or T5 to survive.
Post a pic! They're really neat looking.

http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/s...uct_ID=c-ixmas
That's what J&L has to say about them

tgoeujon · #3 05-26-2008, 02:27 PM

i had mine under t5s for about three months and thought they died but then i moved them to my other tank under the compact flourescents and there doing really good even the polyp extension from the porites is really good. surprising since nothing is supposed to work under that lighting lol. they do need good flow though

Doo · #4 05-26-2008, 03:18 PM

I have given them both of these conditions so far - I hope they do well...

I have been only seeing them after the lights turn off though - not while the lights are on. I have only had them for 4 days so let's see what happens...

Thank you for the help!

fencer · #5 05-26-2008, 04:49 PM

I don't own that coral but I imagine that the feeding requirements are much the same as sun corals. I might further add a well established reef tank is better. I don't think they feed on phytoplankton but zoo plankton or coral snow.

Zoaelite · #6 05-26-2008, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fencer

I don't own that coral but I imagine that the feeding requirements are much the same as sun corals. I might further add a well established reef tank is better. I don't think they feed on phytoplankton but zoo plankton or coral snow.

Sun Corals (Tubastrea faulkneri) have a much larger polyp and are avid feeders at night time (requiring larger meaty pieces). The best representation I can give for a Christmas tree worm rock would be to think of some encrusting coral (such as a Montipora Cap.) with symbiotic feather dusters living in it.