Gorgonian Receding

[2639]

What are the causes of a gorgonia to 'recede'? I woke up this morning to find one of mine in horrible shape! Some of his branches appear as if a fish has eaten the 'meat' off of them leaving behind the stringy wire of a skeleton.

I'm not ruling out that my scopas did it but he's a really tame fella. The only thing I did last night was point my sump return more into the gorgonia's direction. Is it possible there is too much flow on him now? I'm moving the flow just in case but wanted some more opinions about this.

Thanks all.

 

[t34418l3fit]

my serpent star ate about 1" of my gorgonian when i first put it in my tank.and i dont know if my hermits are eating them as well but they like to climb up them and hang around.

 

[SDguy]

What type of gorgonian? If it's not photosynthetic, chances are it's simply starving to death.

 

[2639]

good question...I'll post a pic of it shortly. I do not believe it's starving. This happened overnight and it has always looks very thick and happy.

 

[SDguy]

IME gorgonians don't slowly waste away like a starving fish. They simply look fine until, bang, one day they start falling apart.

FYI photosynthetis gorgonians tend to have off-white to light brown colored polyps. Non photosynthetics tend to have very bright white, or colors like red or blue.

hth

 

[2639]

That would stink if that's what happened.

Here's a pic. I'm not certain of they 'type' of gorgonian. Could you specify that for me?

 

[SDguy]

Wow, you got me on that one

Have never seen one like it. The way the polypls are arranged is particulary interesting. I've always seen gorgonian polyps stick out perpendicular to the stalk. Those seem to point up slightly at a 45 degree angle.

Hopefully someone else can ID this one for you.

 

[2639]

lol...yeah, ya know? it may not be a 'true' gorgonian. I inhereted it and that's what the previous owner called it :S

I have another one that's red/yellow with white polyps that stick out perpendicular and resemble tons of feather dusters.

 

[SDguy]

Some good reading

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2002/3/inverts

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/seafans.htm

Yours is definitely a gorgonian though.