Gorgonian ID

[homer1475]

So I posted this in the newbie section(obviously I'm a newbie ), but seeing other gorgonians posted here I thought this would be the right place.

Purchased this yesterday as the LFS said it was easy to keep, and the wife said it was the prettiest thing she's seen. I know its a gorgonian, but not sure if its a photosynthetic kind or needs to be fed? I'm assuming its photosynthetic since it's brown, but definitely not sure.

 

[Mazzy]

I don't know much about Gorgs so someone else will have to weigh in here, but it looks like possibly a softie of some kind rather than a gorg. Doesn't look like a gorg whether it's a softie or not. But I'd say something like a Kenya tree. I'm terrible at ID though so someone else will probably truly know where I'm just guessing.

 

[homer1475]

Shred5 gave me an ID in my newbie thread(Plexaura flexousa). After googling the name, the mother colony looks exactly like it. Definitely a gorg, photosynthetic gorg too!

I just didn't ask enough question before bringing it home. I asked the usual, light, flow, how and where to glue it in my tank, just not exactly what it was or how to feed it.

Thanks for the response though. :thumbsup:

 

[noy]

briareum sp. probably asbestinum

definitely not a plexaura.

photosynthetic but could use supplementary feedings

 

[homer1475]

briareum sp. probably asbestinum

definitely not a plexaura.

photosynthetic but could use supplementary feedings

Yes, shred5 thought it was briareum too, but after posting pics of it closed up, that's when he gave me the plexaura ID.



It's a better shot with it fully closed. Either way its definitely not an NPS. Sorry for posting in the wrong section.

 

[noy]

those polyps are not that of plexaura. Also, while plexaura has a knobby texture - its nowhere near what you have in that photo (imo).

 

[homer1475]

Any idea what it is then?

 

[noy]

like I said - briarieum (imo) and if I were guess at a species its briareum asbestinum

the colouration matches and the polyp shape matches.
they have different growth forms - they can form rods like you have or encrust onto rockwork or even onto other corals.