Gorgonian ID

[BonesCJ]

This is a fairly close up shot but can anyone ID this gorgonian? Its about as big around as a pencil with large polyps and has grown very well for me, putting on several inches in height and just a month or so ago started growing its next branch halfway up.

 

[scuba guy ron]

You can check out the other posting in this same forum that i posted under gorgonian question. they look alot alike except for the color.

 

[Elysia]

I doubt that these are the same gorgs. I have owned both, and the one pictured here is much much thicker than the one that you collected, scuba guy, if it is what it was IDed as. This one is almost always this color and the polyps are never white. I have had a lot of success with this gorg. As long as there is no algae fouling it, it seems able to grow tissue quickly and encrust its base without a problem, and I have had no problem taking frags from it. That said, I am not certain which species it is. Do you think its pores are slit shaped?

 

[BonesCJ]

the pores very well may be slit or oval in shape

 

[aphenes]

Bones,
Probably Muricia sp. gorgonian ("Sea Rod") from Florida/ Keys.
Very easy to care for.
Photosynthetic/ Light loving, and prefers strong water motion.
They, along with Muricea sp. Gorgonians, look fantastic in systems incorporating some form of surge device: vortec's, tunze's, dump buckets, surge tank, etc..
I have personally had great success with them accepting enriched mysis, chopped/ diced clams, and occationally enriched brine shrimp. All can be bastered around their polyps during the photoperiod.
Good luck with it!
Sounds like it's doing well!

 

[scuba guy ron]

hey elysia, I believe mine to be muricia sp gorgonian which is the same as aphenes is stating yours could possibly be. These are all very common here. When I dive I see all colors of them from purples, whites to pink and orange. They also have white tan and brown polyps. the yellows here have purple sometimes. Trest me they come in just about every color you can imagine.

 

[scuba guy ron]

does yours shed?

 

[BonesCJ]

not sure who your asking, mine does on very rare occasion. Its situated where it gets lots of random flow (right in the middle of a 7 foot tank with modded maxijets at either end) and has had no algea growth problems

 

[Elysia]

Scuba guy, I thought yours was tentatively identified as as a piece of Pseudopterogorgia. Sorry about that. From Borneman's book, Muricea contains less than 20 species, all described as having "rough calyces" and appearing "even with extended polyps" "very spiny." I can't say mine looks spiny. They are also described as being "mostly grayish white, orange-brown, or brown."

Perhaps the gorgs here are Plexaura sp.? They are described as "bushy" with "thick branches," comparatively dry and rough, with small, minimally raised, pore like calyces and retractile polyps. Most are "shades of purple, brown, and purplish gray."

The reason why I asked about the slit pore is because I have often wondered about Plexaurella sp. They are described as having "elliptical apertures from which a dense number of large, fuzzy, retractile polyps emerge." "They are often tall and bushy, with thick, sparse, cylindrical branches." Their color is often yellow to brown or purple-gray.

Here is a photo of one of my gorgs.

And here is a close up of one of the branches:

This is also mine, a different gorgonian, but I think it is the same species:

 

[BonesCJ]

That 2nd pic is EXACTLY what mine looks like, your gorg colonies are very nice. The photosynthetic gorgs are never as brightly colored as the dedicated filter feeders but I think they make up for it in being much easier to care for and when they are in motion look amazing!

 

[scuba guy ron]

wow....that first one is deffinitly much bushier then the one I have. After 3 weeks I know mine is deffinitly a photocynthetic type but actual ID is still up in the air. PS yours look great!

 

[Elysia]

I can't take much credit for how good these gorgs look; they have been very easy. I have three different colonies. All are doing great. And I have hair algae in my tanks, so you know they must be easy!

 

[scuba guy ron]

the ones i collected are doing amazing too. not as bushy as yours though.

 

[scuba guy ron]

hey elysia, I notice you have a 56 column. I have the 37. I'm pretty sure yours is the Marineland like mine only taller( alot taller). Am I rite?

 

[Elysia]

I was trying to find a gorgonian ID key that I had located yesterday...

I'm not sure about my tank.... Its 30" across, 18" wide, and 24" deep. I don't think I would want to go any deeper, as it can be a pain to work in, but I also wouldn't want to go much narrower, as I like having the extra width to play with as far as the rock placement. I wouldn't mind going a bit more "cube-ish" when I upgrade....

 

[scuba guy ron]

Yeah, I even have trouble with mine. I have to put my entire arm in all the way to the arm pit to get to the bottom.

 

[BonesCJ]

A fresh picture just for fun

 

[Elysia]

No doubt Bones, these are one and the same gorgonian. Now if someone can only ID it!

 

[scuba guy ron]

Beautiful pic!

 

[slapshot]

I would say Plexaura. Photosythetic and easy to keep. I got mine from the keys and it grows like a weed. I do feed it a mixture of Fuana marin stuff and it actually feeds you can see the polyps grabbibg away.