Gorgonian Husbandry and the Future of Reef-Keeping
Guest Writer Julien Napoli1 day ago
Gorgonians are a mysterious and often misunderstood type of soft corals. They come in myriad shapes and colors, but the most familiar of them to the aquarist might be the Caribbean photosynthetic varieties, such as Eunicea mammosa — the Swollen Knob Candelabrum, Pterogorgia sp. — the so-called sea whips/ribbons, or the Rusty Gorgonian — Muricea elgongata, to name just a few.
The types of Gorgonians found in the hobby can broadly be divided into two categories: photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic (NPS). NPS gorgonians do not have Dinoflagellate symbionts populating their soft tissues, converting light energy to glucose, bestowing energy to the coral animal. Rather, all their energy is derived from food in the surrounding water column, which presents the aquarist with problems. Most photosynthetic Gorgonians may be plopped into a tank with little care taken for their needs; if there is moderate flow and clean water, they will do well. NPS Gorgonians, on the other hand, require an extraordinarily specified diet; thus, the natural question becomes, what do they eat?
For the whole article, which goes into continued knowledge gathering, tremendous dedication to feeding NPS gorgonians, and more - please go:
Gorgonian Husbandry and the Future of Reef-Keeping | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog
main image credit to Evan Suh Gorgonians are a mysterious and often misunderstood type of soft corals. They come in myriad shapes and colors, but the most familiar of them to the aquarist might be…
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