Video of Tigerskin Gorgonian Feeding on various foods

[noy]

I made a number of videos of my Tigerskin (non-photo) Gorgonian Feeding on various foods. This might help with those that want to keep non-photosynthetic Gorgonians and the foods to feed them. I also have a red Gorgonian and it exhibits the same feeding response.

Gorgonian Reacting to Water flow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXnsptXl3LE
This just shows what a non-feeding response looks like. I'm just squirting water at the Gorgonians here.

Gorgonians Feeding on Frozen Cyclo-peez
This is the pricey red stuff that's sold with the PE-Mysis by Piscine Energetics.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYFWPxzm81A
The gorgonians love this stuff - exhibits the best feed response of all the foods (imo).


Gorgonian Feeding on Phyto
DT's Phyto.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeCddhR9100
You see there no or very little response.

Gorgonian Feeding on Reefroids
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ruJFFPBg4o
Seems to be pretty good feeding response.

Gorgonian Feeding on Freeze Dried Cyclopeez
This is the stuff in a tin from Argent.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XgMjeUGUVk
Probably the best response after the frozen cyclopeez

Coral Frenzy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0hfNPQqCVM
Similar to Reefroids.

 

[Reef Frog]

Great vids, thanks. Do you see feeding response from just direct target feeding, or do you observe them feeding on random particles floating around during the day as well? can they catch particles in full flow with tour pumps on full? Since gorgs could only trap some of the particles, how do you keep uneaten particles from accumulating & causing a nutrient spike? Is this a dedicated NPS tank, is this a long term stable tank or are you just getting started with NPS. THANKS!

 

[noy]

Great vids, thanks. Do you see feeding response from just direct target feeding, or do you observe them feeding on random particles floating around during the day as well? can they catch particles in full flow with tour pumps on full? Since gorgs could only trap some of the particles, how do you keep uneaten particles from accumulating & causing a nutrient spike? Is this a dedicated NPS tank, is this a long term stable tank or are you just getting started with NPS. THANKS!

The tank has been up for over 18 months - its a mixed reef LPS/SPS. I had my red gorgonian for about 6 months now and the tigerskin for only a couple of months.

I only target feed that way I can make sure the corals (I target feed my sps too) absorb most of the food. You just need a good size skimmer to extract dissolved nutrients. Mine is rated over 2x (almost 3x) the water capacity of my system.

They do catch random particles - I noticed that when I feed my sun corals brine/Mysis - they show a feeding response to the really small particles in the water column.

I noticed when I just dump the food in the water column (i.e. no target feeding). The gorgonians don't show a regular feeding response - so I really don't think that's the way to go. They are able to pick out food in the water column even with a strong flow going (the videos show that - the food is practically blasted at them).

 

[noy]

Video of My Tangs and Intro of New Gorgonian

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrR28Myl6QA

Shots of My Gorgonians


IMG_6256


IMG_6255


IMG_4765


IMG_4165

 

[CT Reefer]

Very nice!

 

[HellHammer]

Really great thread noy !

Do you tried a other foods ?
You only target feed your gorgonian ? How many times per day ?!

 

[WALTERRUBEN]

Great job, Noy!!!
I have received an excellent response to shredded tuna (particles <0.5mm).
Greetings!!!

 

[noy]

Really great thread noy !

Do you tried a other foods ?
You only target feed your gorgonian ? How many times per day ?!

Just got some fauna marin sea fan food - will post videos of that.

Only target feed, 2-3x a day during week - 3-5 on weekends. Working on a continuous feed system using dry foods will post that too.

 

[noy]

Great job, Noy!!!
I have received an excellent response to shredded tuna (particles <0.5mm).
Greetings!!!

I believe it - I recently noticed that when I feed my sun corals Mysis (I have lots) the gorg's show an excellent response to the residue floating around - so believe that meaty foods as long as the particles are small enough could make for great food.

 

[HellHammer]

have you noticed a growth of your gorgonians?

Thank noy !

 

[noy]

I think so - but really can't say for sure - its not significant.
No regression (that's a win).

I have a photosyn one that is really growing.

 

[Bmorereefer]

Hi I'm a newbie to the nps world but I recently made the plunge after reading about the yellow gorgonian. I purchased one from my lfs and had it 2 weeks now and thanks to noy's videos I know what food to feed it. I have been feeding cyclopeeze a couple times daily and it's shown great polyp extension throughout the day. Thank you all for you valuable information and I hope to add more nps coral as I become more accustomed to keeping the gorgonian.

 

[fullmonti]

Love the fat tangs in your video!