Goniopora Care & Diet

[puffermike]

Hey everyone! I'm calling out all the Goniopora care givers to give me their advice. I've read much on this coral but I'd like to get some advice from you guys. I currently have a pretty large specimen. I'm amazed at how small and huge it gets depending on it's mood throughout the day. I've seen this guy about the size of a softball cut in half... and then the base will inflate into the size of a bowling ball and once it's polyps are totally extended it's enormous!

What are you guys feeding these guys? I've fed mine finely chopped mysis shrimp but I've been interested in trying some very small pellet food considering the mouths of the polyps are relatively small. I know that this coral was once considered "impossible" as far as the stokesi species, mine however is from Australia. As far as flow mine seems to enjoy more turbulent throughout my experimentation with moving it around the tank. Anyone else have more input on them?

 

[Oxylebius]

What species on gorgonian do you have?

Gorgonians have different requirements depending on the species you have. Some are photosynthetic others are non-photosythetic. Depending on the species you have will depend on how much you need to feed it and what its light needs are. Non-photosynthetic gorgonians will need substantial amounts of food. Good choices include Artemia nauplii, rotifers, Cyclop-eeze, and any foods which dissolve into fine particulate matter in the water column. I feed mine frozen rotifers thawed in marine snow.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Whoops, Goniopora not Gorgonian.

 

[Oxylebius]

Ah well, guess I need new glasses.....hopefully it gave the thread a bump at the very least.

 

[Steve L]

I have a green one about the size of a baseball when fully inflated and I usually just add some oyster egg and phyto feast once a week. I turn my skimmer off for an hour or so while the critters are feeding. I have spot fed it a few times with a turkey baster but it's not really necessary as far as I can tell. I have a small pink frag with about a dozen polyps that's doing well and growing with the same feeding schedule.

 

[Mr.Reeefer]

there are specialised foods on the market for goni's, I use reef roids, plus I add other aminos during the week.

Maybe start at feeding once a week then slowly try and increase to two or three times, they like there food but are pretty poor at catching it. Stokeski goni's are still almost impossible long term , the only people that can keep them for more than a couple of years specifically run there tanks "dirty" for them.
other goni's are easier however still a bit more difficult than your usual coral. Good flow and light with some nutrients in your water column and you should be fine

Post a pic

 

[puffermike]

I'll have to snag some pics of it when it's opened up sometime soon. They are really poor at getting food even when I spot feed them. I have to do it like some kind of underwater figure skater or it hides away like a jack in the box. Anyways, thanks for all the info guys! It's much appreciated.