These Serpulid polychaete worms are filter feeders which build themselves calcareous tubes to live in.

The tubes are built continuously and, if left undisturbed, can become quite large.

Since the introduction of the Copperband Butterfly there are only a few of these beautiful creatures left in inaccessible places in the main tank. However there are many in the overflow towers and the sump.

Pictures by Lisa Page.

More filter feeding worms. They are not difficult to keep but do need a constant supply of plankton.

It is mistakenly believed that these worms only associate with Porites sp. but when diving I have seen them growing on other hard corals.

There are many of these scavengers in most reef tanks and although they are sometimes mistakenly accused of killing favourite creatures like clams they are in fact just eating flesh which is already dead.

On the right is another species of bristle worm which is an equally good scavenger. Whereas the red ones climb all over the place I have only ever seen these grey ones on the substrate. The largest specimen I have come across in an aquarium was 24" long and I am sure they grow much bigger.

Some more examples from my small tank.

What looks like two pieces of green string in the middle this picture is a Green Spoon Worm which has been in my small tank for three years.

The distal end of the worm is bifurcated. Since the splitting occurs part way along there is more body to be extended than can be seen in this picture..

Spoon Worms get their common name from the shape of their proboscis in which the edges are rolled under to make a spoon like shape with a furrow as can be seen in the right hand picture. The furrow continues along the worm's trunk to the body hidden in its burrow.

The extensible proboscis is extended along the substrate and small particles stick to the mucus on the surface to be swept along the ciliated furrow to the mouth. The picture above shows a parcel of food being transported.

The sex life of these creatures is very strange. Males are no more than 1-2mm long and live in the uterus of the 1-2 metre long female where they absorb nourishment through their body wall.