purple gorgonian id?

[RynoParsons]

Can somebody id this gorgonian. Have it for about a month now its doing wellm feeding about 4times a week

http://s1250.photobucket.com/user/Rynoparsons/media/2014-02-08204834_zps9d979f06.jpg.html]

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[RynoParsons]

Anybody?

 

[jmowbray]

I'm sorry I'm new to gorgos. as well. The extension on yours is great. What are you feeding it? I feed mine once a day and I'm not sure I'm doing good.

 

[RynoParsons]

I feed gonio powder, phytoplancton, frozen mysis' micro plankton, lobster eggs, cyclops, brineshrimp some flake food. It varies. Would take a mix of 3 and blend it target feed all my corals then

 

[noy]

Its a little difficult given its a frag and you can't really see the growth form. But I would guess its one of:

i) Plexaura flexuosa - purple sea rod - these have more of a sea rod growth and the polyps show a distinct dark raised growth when retracted (in mature colonies).

ii) Muriceopsis flavida - purple brush / Lamarck's gorgonian. These have more of a plume growth. The polyps are smaller and retract into the the skin.

 

[RynoParsons]

The polyps retract and extend quite a few times during the day when its retracted into the skin the gorgonian is a purple reddish colour

 

[RynoParsons]

Plexaura flexuosa thanx its definitely this one!

 

[RynoParsons]

"º Description

This gorgonian is not particularly demanding and relatively non-agressive. *However, it shouldn't be allowed to come into contact with other gorgonians, corals, or anemones to minimize inter-species aggression. * Purple Candelabras can adapt to a wide variety of lighting and prefer decent water flow. *

This purple*Plexaura flexuosa*is a rare and collectible color morph of a striking photosynthetic gorgonian that grows upright branches in a parallel plane, much like a candelabra. The gorgonian tissue is an true purple color under any type of lighting and the polyps are small and of a contrasting light cream color.

Fastest growth will be accomplished when feeding small zooplankton type food. Aquascapers uses and recommends Two Little Fishies ZoPlan or Goniopower

 

[Green_fishy]

I think it could be menella or guaiagorgia ��

 

[afishionado]

^ Precisely.

This specimen appears to be Menella sp. to my educated/experienced knowledge ...

Very difficult azooxanthellate gorgonian species, past the 6 month mark, so stay proactive/on top of your husbandry and feeding practices.

Do not get very comfortable with your early success, they tend to do well when first introduced to an above decent quality environment/system but will slowly deteriorate afterwards if not kept in elite conditions/systems !

If you feel it's beginning to deteriorate please contact one of the top Azoox aquarists here to pass along in order to receive better conditions/care/etc, as it is EXTREMELY difficult species to recover, under captive conditions, once it begins to show these effects even slightly ... Some good choices for the, I hate to say it, inevitable safe transfer would be Uhuru / Aquabacs / or myself if you so choose. It's a beautiful species and deserves to be treated with an equal amount of respect so please don't hesitate to reach out and do this, Im sure everyone on that list would provide you with some compensation for your decision/action. HTH

 

[noy]

I always find identification of gorg to be tough due to lack of taxa data (and maybe just lack of experience on my part). I'm always a bit skeptical about internet sources.

I didn't think this was a menella because menella has very large polyps which are quite distinct and from what I could see in the photo it didn't appear that way.

Here is a close up of a common menella.


IMG_1552

You can see the polyps extend almost the diameter of the branch. There is a blue color variant of the menella but the photos/videos I've seen have yellow or white/cream colored polyps. I looked up Borneman's book but it doesn't even have menella listed.

Here is what I think is a Plexaura flexuosa
(sorry about the photo quality/lack of polyp extension - I just dumped some FM in the tank to get extension and took a photo - they usually open up at night).


IMG_1591

Smaller polyps and the polyps are shaped slightly differently. They are a lighter color than the skin.
Again if people have taxa/reference information I'm happy to be proven wrong

 

[noy]

I know this is an ID thread but as far as care/husbandry you may want to look at Reef Hobbyist magazine (online) 2013-Q4. There is an article on NPS and a small beginner's primer on gorg's.

The key (I think) is getting the necessary nutrition for these corals.

I would target feed (i.e. get a "squirter" and squirt food at your corals). You need to know what foods are generating a feed response (i.e. your corals are eating it). Of the stuff you listed - I don't think phyto, brine, mysis are suitable foods (the "juice" from Mysis is suitable though). I am dubious about goniopowder and flake food. I don't really know what the other stuff is.

I have an older thread with videos on feeding and feeding responses.http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2305738

You should do the same with the foods you are feeding and confirm that your corals are in fact absorbing it.

 

[RynoParsons]

Thanx for the info. I target feed the coral. Phytplancton and zooplankton, frozen microplankton, lobster egg and cyclops are all tiny tiny food. Goniopowder is just mixed onto that pphto and zoo planktpn as all of them aee powder tyd from 2 little fishies