Gorgonians

[Woodstock]

GORGONIANS
The gorgonians are soft coral colonies that are tree like. They attach themselves to rocks at the base and have a skeleton that is similar to animal horns.

Many gorgonians are photosynthetic and so need light to survive. Others, like the finger corals, grow at great depths or shaded areas and don't require light. They usually must be fed to survive in the aquarium.

Aquarium Care:

The gorgonians all need strong currents to help rid themselves of the waxy film that is secreted to rid themselves of algae. Surge devices or turbulent water flow is best.

Care of Photosynthetic Gorgonians:

Since they are photosynthetic, they need good lighting as well. Although most are not accustomed to the very strong lights produced by metal halide, it is said that they will eventually adjust and grow faster because of it. Some can be fed while others do not. In either case they don't need to be fed in order to survive.

Care of Non-Photosynthetic Gorgonians:

For those that need to be fed, feed them at least once a week. Feed detritus, brine shrimp, Daphnia, Cyclops, or pulverized flake food, shrimp or clams. Sometimes you can stir up the gravel slightly in order to mix detritus in the water for feeding the detritus eating species.

Gorgonians are also known as octocorals, so named because the individual polyps have eight tentacles that they use to feed. If you look closely at the branches of a soft coral (sea rods are probably the most obvious), you may see the tiny tentacles of the individual polyps. Each of these tentacles is feathered, and the creature uses them to capture plankton floating in the current. Soft corals polyps are able to contract and expand, and this ability changes their appearance enormously. When the polyps are expanded, the colony appears soft and fuzzy. Contracted they look more like barren tree branches in winter.

These unique animal colonies bear a spectrum of colors. Many varieties enjoy a symbiotic relationship with the microalgae zooxanthellae. This algae, as with the stony corals, lives within the tissue of the coral polyp. And, as with the hard corals, the algae partners give a greenish or brown hue to the coral. Some Gorgonians sport their brightest color in their living tissues, others in their skeletal stalks. Colors range from greens and yellows to breathtaking reds and purples.

Aquaculture has produced a winning group of stunning Gorgonians

One of the nicest things about these corals is that the wild Gorgonians do not grow as well as these captive raised ones. These corals do not go through the shock that sets back so many of the collected Gorgonians.

[Gina]

Great info Doni! As I've seen so many pics lately of these, I was getting curious about their needs.