Scientific Name Gorgonia ventalina G flabellum and G mariae
Common Name: Sea Fan
Colour: Purple, yellow, gray, brown. Polyps brown.
Distinguishing Characteristics: Gorgonia ventalina is the common variety of sea fan, with the branching flattened in the same plane as the fan. It is typically purple, but can also be pale gray or yellow. G. flabellum is distinguished by branches flattened perpendicular to the plane of the fan, and it is more rigid. It may be any of the aforementioned colors, but yellow is most typical. A third species, Gorgonia mariae, has branches that are rounded instead of flattened.
Natural Habitat: Sea fans grow most profusely where they receive regular surge action that rocks them to and fro. Gorgonia ventalina grows both in high surge zones and in zones where the predominant water motion is from tidal currents. It may occur in shallow or deep water. G. flabellum only occurs in shallow water, commonly in zones that receive heavy surge.
Aquarium Care: In the aquarium G. ventalina and G. mariae are very hardy and grow well under intense illumination and strong water motion. Gorgonia flabellum is more delicate, though certainly possible to grow when provided with very strong illumination (which will maintain the lemon yellow colour) and strong water motion. Gorgonia flabellum does not ship as well as the other tw o species.
Important note: Because of the curio trade in dead corals, the three Caribbean sea fan species are prohibited to collect in Florida, and prohibited to collect in many Caribbean localities. Please be sure that these wonderful soft corals are obtained legally. Where legal to collect, there is no harm done by harvesting small, four inch colonies since these are only about one year old or less, and clearly renewable. When they are collected, the small fragments of the base or holdfast that remain on the reef grow into new fans.
Post a comment