Common name: Social feather duster

General information

The Social Feather Duster, scientifically known as Bispira brunnea, is a fascinating marine invertebrate that belongs to the family Sabellidae. These segmented worms are known for their beautiful, fan-like crowns, which are actually highly specialized feeding appendages called radioles. The Social Feather Duster is often found in groups, hence its common name, and can add a dynamic visual element to any reef aquarium.

Care

Bispira brunnea is a filter feeder, requiring suspended particulate matter in the water column to thrive. They are relatively easy to care for in a well-established reef aquarium with stable water conditions. It's important to provide a moderate to strong water flow to ensure that food particles are available to them. They do not require additional feeding if the tank has a sufficient amount of microfauna, but they can benefit from supplemental feedings of phytoplankton or fine particulate foods.

Reproduction

Social Feather Dusters reproduce both sexually and asexually. In sexual reproduction, they release sperm and eggs into the water column, resulting in free-swimming larvae. Asexually, they can reproduce by budding, where a new individual grows from the base of an existing one. This can lead to the formation of dense clusters, which is a characteristic behavior of this species.

Habitat

Bispira brunnea is typically found in shallow waters, often attaching themselves to hard substrates such as rocks, coral rubble, or the shells of other animals. They prefer areas with moderate to strong currents which facilitate their filter-feeding lifestyle. In the aquarium, they should be placed in areas where they are not subjected to direct, intense water flow, which could damage their delicate radioles.