Christmas Tree Worm

Care Summary

Christmas Tree Worms are filter-feeding polychaetes that live embedded in coral heads, extending brilliant, spiral plumes to catch plankton and particulates from the water column. They do best in established reef tanks with stable parameters and should be mounted on the coral rubble or live rock they arrive on, since the worm and substrate are a single unit. The challenge is sensitivity to disturbance, they retract instantly at any shadow or vibration and will not extend if flow is too strong or lighting too abrupt in its changes. Supplemental phytoplankton or fine zooplankton dosing will reward you with longer extension periods and better long-term health for these delicate, stunning animals.