Cluster Duster (Bispira variegata) Care Guide
Bispira variegata is a small Caribbean sabellid worm that forms dense clusters of banded radiole crowns and filters plankton.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Bispira variegata is a small sabellid feather duster worm that forms dense clusters of individuals, each extending a banded radiole crown. It is a peaceful filter feeder that adds movement and water-column filtration to a reef. The crown retracts rapidly into the tube when disturbed.
Taxonomy
- Phylum: Annelida
- Class: Polychaeta
- Order: Sabellida
- Family: Sabellidae
- Scientific name: Bispira variegata
- Note: WoRMS treats Bispira variegata (Krøyer, 1856) as a synonym of Bispira melanostigma (Schmarda, 1861)
Habitat
According to reefguide.org the worm occurs in the Caribbean, Bahamas and Florida at depths of about 6-23 m (20-75 ft), where it forms colonies of sediment tubes on reefs and hard substrate.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 60 L
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Salinity: 1.024-1.026 SG
- dKH: 8-11
- Adult size: 2-5 cm; reefguide.org reports about 1.8-3.8 cm (0.75-1.5 in)
- Lifespan: 2-5 years
Diet
It is a suspension feeder, capturing fine plankton and organic particles with its radiole crown. In aquariums it relies on plankton-rich water and benefits from frequent dosing of phytoplankton and fine particulate foods.
Compatibility
Peaceful and reef-safe with other invertebrates and peaceful fish. Avoid hawkfish and arrow crabs, which may pick at the crowns. Place clusters low in the tank where suspended food is more concentrated.
Bispira variegata Breeding Guide
Overview
Bispira variegata is a small cluster-forming feather duster of the family Sabellidae. In the World Register of Marine Species the name Bispira variegata is listed as unaccepted, with the currently accepted name Bispira melanostigma (Schmarda, 1861), so its biology is read together with the genus and its close relative the social feather duster Bispira brunnea. Members of Bispira filter plankton with a crown of banded radioles and tend to live in tight groups of many individuals.
Reproductive Mode
Within the genus, both sexual and asexual reproduction occur within a population at the same time. In the well-studied Bispira brunnea, the great majority of individuals reproduce sexually (as gonochores or hermaphrodites), with sequential protandrous hermaphroditism suggested.
Asexual Reproduction
Bispira also reproduces asexually by architomy, in which buds are produced inside the parental tube at several regenerative stages. In B. brunnea a substantial fraction of the population was found reproducing by architomy, which underlies the dense clusters characteristic of these worms.
Sexual Reproduction
As in other sabellids, sexual reproduction proceeds by external fertilisation after gametes are released into the water, followed by a planktonic larval phase before settlement and growth into adult worms.
Common Challenges
In an aquarium, increase comes mainly from asexual budding within the cluster rather than from larval rearing, which is impractical. Adequate suspended plankton is essential, and crowns may be shed under stress and later regenerated.