Why did my Coco Worm lose its feathery crown?

Shedding the crown, known as autotomy, is usually a stress response to poor water quality, starvation, or a sudden change in parameters. If conditions improve and the worm has enough energy reserves, the crown can regrow in a few weeks.

How do I properly feed a Coco Worm?

Turn off the skimmer temporarily and use a pipette to gently release phytoplankton or liquid marine snow slightly upstream of the worm, allowing the current to carry the food into its feathery radioles. Do not blast the crown directly, or it will retract.

Does the Coco Worm need strong lighting?

No. They are non-photosynthetic (NPS) and do not contain symbiotic algae. They can be placed in shaded areas of the tank, provided the water flow and food supply are adequate.

Will my fish eat my Coco Worm?

Certain species absolutely will. Butterflyfish, pufferfish, triggerfish, and many wrasses are natural predators of tube worms and will quickly consume the soft feathery crown.

Why is my Coco Worm's tube turning green?

The hard white calcareous tube can often become encrusted with nuisance algae or coralline algae over time. This is natural and generally harmless, provided the opening remains clear.

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Coco Worm

Protula bispiralis

A striking calcareous marine tube worm renowned for its dramatic, bi-lobed feathery crown.

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Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 23 – 26 °C
pH range: 8.1 – 8.4
Hardness: 8 – 12 dGH
Salinity: 1.023 – 1.025 SG
Adult size: 10 – 20 cm
100L: 100 litres+
Lifespan: 2 – 5 years
Diet: Filter feeder
Water flow: Moderate

About the Coco Worm

The Coco Worm (Protula bispiralis) is arguably one of the most magnificent marine tube worms available to aquarists. Unlike standard feather dusters that construct parchment-like casings, the Coco Worm secretes a solid, hard calcareous tube. From this protective home, it extends a stunning, spiral-shaped double crown of radioles. This feathery appendage is highly sensitive to light and movement, swiftly retracting at the first sign of danger.

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Where Coco Worm comes from

Native range

Indo-Pacific

Countries / regions

Indonesia, Philippines, Australia, Fiji

Habitat

Coral reefs, reef slopes, and rubble zones where strong currents carry suspended organic matter.

Widespread across tropical Indo-Pacific reefs, frequently found anchored in rock crevices.

Similar species

Feather Duster Worm
Sabellastarte sp.
Christmas Tree Worm
Spirobranchus giganteus

We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

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Ocellaris Clownfish
Amphiprion ocellaris
Peaceful and reef-safe; occupies the water column and will not bother sessile invertebrates.
Great
Firefish Goby
Nemateleotris magnifica
A highly peaceful fish that poses no threat to the delicate feeding crown of the worm.
Great
Peppermint Shrimp
Lysmata wurdemanni
While generally reef-safe, opportunistic shrimp may occasionally pick at the feathery crown of tube worms.
Compatible with caution
Copperband Butterflyfish
Chelmon rostratus
Specialised invertebrate foragers that will actively hunt and consume the soft tissue of tube worms.
Not recommended
Dogface Puffer
Arothron nigropunctatus
Large, inquisitive, and equipped with a strong beak; will easily crush the hard tube and eat the worm.
Not recommended

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