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Little Shop of Coral

Feather Duster Worm (Protula sp.)

Feather Duster Worm (Protula sp.)

$40.00 CAD
$40.00 CAD
Sale Sold out
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The Feather Duster Worm is a peaceful, reef-safe filter feeder known for its beautiful feather crown that it extends to capture tiny food particles from the water. It adds instant movement and a natural reef look, and it is a great choice for established tanks with stable parameters and regular feeding. Like all feather dusters, it will retract quickly when startled, and it can drop its crown if stressed, then regrow it over time once conditions improve.

Why we love it

  • Beautiful feather crown that adds motion and a natural reef feel

  • Peaceful, reef-safe filter feeder for community reefs

  • Great for established tanks with consistent feeding

  • Interesting behaviour, retracts instantly when disturbed

Care and Compatibility

Care Level: Easy to Moderate
Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Safe: Yes
Diet: Filter feeder (plankton and fine suspended foods)
Adult Size: Varies by specimen
Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons recommended (larger is ideal for stability)

Feeding (Important)

Feather dusters rely on fine foods in the water column.

  • Phytoplankton and zooplankton blends

  • Powdered coral foods and fine suspended invertebrate foods

  • Small, frequent feedings work better than large infrequent feedings
    In very clean tanks with minimal feeding, they can slowly decline, so plan to feed the system.

Tank and Setup Notes

  • Moderate flow helps deliver food to the crown, avoid direct blasting flow

  • Provide rockwork where the tube can be placed securely

  • Stable salinity and temperature are key, invertebrates do not tolerate swings well

  • If the crown drops, it is usually a stress response. Leave it in place and focus on stability

Compatibility Tips

  • Safe with corals and most reef inverts

  • Avoid fish and inverts that pick at worms, such as many butterflyfish, some wrasses, and certain crabs

  • Use caution with aggressive tank mates that may constantly disturb it

  • Works well in peaceful reefs and nano reefs with gentle fish

Acclimation and Health

Drip acclimation is recommended. Place the tube securely in a crevice so it can anchor and extend comfortably. Once settled, it is usually hardy as long as the tank is stable and the system receives regular fine feeding.

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LIGHT

LOW: Place coral at the bottom of the tank. Depending on the type, coral may need to be placed off sand and therefore mounted on a ceramic disc of piece of rock.

MEDIUM: Place coral at mid-range of the tank. Best placed/glued on top of a rock scape at mid-range height. 

HIGH: Place coral from mid range to just below water level. SPS coral are shallow growing so they require and are able to tolerate intense light.

FLOW

LOW: Most soft coral do well with a small, gentle pulse. There are certain corals that can even be placed in areas of indirect flow, meaning places aside a rock structure or set into a entrance to a cave style space.

MEDIUM: Many LPS types of coral prefer medium pulse current. Most Euphyllia or corals that have more tissue structure connected to their skeleton, don’t like to be in a high flow area like the direct flow of the wave pump.

HIGH: Similar to high light, SPS enjoy being in some heavy current. Most LPS and SPS that branch encrust or plate prefer high flow that simulates the top water waves.

SKILL

ENTRY: While some may say beginner level, "Entry" is a good term to be used when starting out in the world of corals and marine life. Prior to adding livestock, you want to ensure that your reef has the proper parameters including zero levels of ammonia and nitrite. Seeing traces of nitrate in your waters is a good sign - just keep them at a lower level of 2ppm to 10ppm. Maintaining correct temperature and salinity are a huge factor to stable parameters. Starting to monitor your PH, alkalinity, calcium and magnesium is a great habit to get into to keep a successful reef.

While some soft coral don’t require too much light, having a proper reef light that puts out the proper pars is very important. You'll also want to have a good amount of flow and protected rock areas, as placing corals in their happy spot is ideal for success.

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