Sea fan ID
- Thread starter Red Sea reefer
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Sciencing Daily
I forget the exact name, but it is non-photosynthetic so it will need to be fed a variety of foods 5-10 times a day to live.
Red Sea reefer
New member
Are u sure it's non- photosynthetic ???
So it's better for me to stay away from it , cause no way to feed it that much
Thanks
Red Sea reefer
New member
I am not sure I google the name you gave me it's look bit different to me
Ron Reefman
Active member
It's absolutely a Gorgonian. Are you considering getting this or do you have it already? Do you know what color the main stalk is when the polyps are retracted? Is it dark purple and has 'ridges' that run up and down the stalk?
There are both NPS and photosynthetic Gorgonians and they are split just about even between the two. Based on the photo you posted, there is no way anybody can be positive about an ID as to which specific Gorgonian it is.
I have both in my tanks. The NPS ones are a bit of a pain and are much harder to keep alive. The photosynthetic ones are pretty easy. They still like to get fed occasionally as a lot of them come from shallow reef flats where the water quality is lower and there are more nutrients in the water. I collected mine in the Florida Keys while snorkeling. There are so many of them that the state allows license holders to take up to 8 colonies in a day, as opposed to only 5 polyps of zoas or softies and ABSOLUTELY NO stony corals and NO live rock.
There are both NPS and photosynthetic Gorgonians and they are split just about even between the two. Based on the photo you posted, there is no way anybody can be positive about an ID as to which specific Gorgonian it is.
I have both in my tanks. The NPS ones are a bit of a pain and are much harder to keep alive. The photosynthetic ones are pretty easy. They still like to get fed occasionally as a lot of them come from shallow reef flats where the water quality is lower and there are more nutrients in the water. I collected mine in the Florida Keys while snorkeling. There are so many of them that the state allows license holders to take up to 8 colonies in a day, as opposed to only 5 polyps of zoas or softies and ABSOLUTELY NO stony corals and NO live rock.
Red Sea reefer
New member
I just saw it a month a go in my friend tank , he sold most of his coral now still have few corals , he have this one for almost a month now he never feed any of his coral .
So he asked me if I want it , I didn't said yes or no .
The main stalk color is dark brown .
So I don't know if it's good idea to get it or know , cause i can't feed couple times a day ,
So what you think ??
Ron Reefman
Active member
Most NPS Gorgonians have branches or stalks that are nice colors, yellow, red, orange, white, purple and many of them have well colored polyps. The purple one does have white or tan polyps though.
Most of the PS Gorgonians have branches or stalks with much more 'nondescript' colors like tan, 'kind of purplish', brown and the polyps are usually of the off white to tan in color.
But the above is just kind of a guideline, look hard and you'll find some cross overs.
Most of what we find in the Keys are real sea fan Gorgonians that can be pretty colorful out on the big coral reef. And on the shallow flats there are a lot of PS Gorgonians. Probably close to a dozen species, but they differ as much in shape as the do in color. Most are fairly drab colors. But the are food for the Flamingo Tongue snail that is so colorful.
Red Sea reefer
New member
Red Sea reefer
New member
Bongo Shrimp
P. ceratophthalma
It's Menella sp. and it is definitely nonphotosynthetic.
username in use
Sciencing Daily
The one on the right there isn't happy. That's why he "used to have two". They aren't easy to keep if you aren't ready for the upkeep.
