Prof. Dr. Charles G. Messing, (†), USA
Info
Very specíal thanks for the first photo of Eunicea tayrona to Prof. Dr. Charles G. Messing, Nova Southeastern University, USA.
The Caribbean gorgonian Plexaurella grandiflora forms colonies of low to medium height that are bushy and branched laterally.
The branches are variably short or long, straight or curved, densely crowded or sparse and reach a diameter of 3.5 - 4.5 mm, often with slightly swollen tips.
This gorgonian does not form mucus.
The colour of the gorgonian range from pale light brown to gorgonian a putty-like appearance.
Remarks: Due to its low, bushy growth habit with densely packed branches, Plexaurella grandiflora can resemble the gorgonian Eunicea fusca. The branches tend to be more slender than in other Plexaurella species.
Professor Dr. Peter Wirtz et al. (2009) reported two unidentified shrimps as symbionts.
Predators: Flamingo tongue snails, Cyphoma spp., are frequent predators of Pseudoplexaura species.
Recommendation - the coral should be kept in a species-specific tank.
Feeding
Gorgonians do not have zooxanthellae and do not live off light. Azooxanthellate gorgonians do not host symbiotic algae that produce nutrients and energy through photosynthesis.
The pumps should be switched off before feeding. In order for the gorgonian to survive in the aquarium, each individual polyp must be fed sufficiently, i.e. daily or 3-4 times a week. Without feeding, the gorgonian will not survive in the aquarium. The polyps need a certain amount of time to absorb the food (granules or dust food (Ultramarin, Cyclop Eeze) or frozen food (lobster eggs, mysis)). If shrimp and fish are present, they will try to steal the food, so it is essential to feed these cohabitants beforehand.
Newly introduced gorgonian sticks can be stimulated with a liquid food, e.g., PolypLab Polyp, to encourage the individual polyps to open. Only then can feeding be carried out.
The better the individual polyps take up the food provided, the better the growth and reproduction rates will be.
Azooxanthellate corals eat suspensions, marine snow, microplankton, and other organic matter, which is their natural food.
Plexaurella grandiflora should keep well in marine aquaria, its rather small size would also be an advantage, as would the presence of zooxanthellae.
Synonyms:
Plexaurella braziliana Verrill, 1912
Plexaurella cylindrica Verrill, 1912
Plexaurella pumila Verrill, 1912
Plexaurella verrucosa Verrill, 1912
The Caribbean gorgonian Plexaurella grandiflora forms colonies of low to medium height that are bushy and branched laterally.
The branches are variably short or long, straight or curved, densely crowded or sparse and reach a diameter of 3.5 - 4.5 mm, often with slightly swollen tips.
This gorgonian does not form mucus.
The colour of the gorgonian range from pale light brown to gorgonian a putty-like appearance.
Remarks: Due to its low, bushy growth habit with densely packed branches, Plexaurella grandiflora can resemble the gorgonian Eunicea fusca. The branches tend to be more slender than in other Plexaurella species.
Professor Dr. Peter Wirtz et al. (2009) reported two unidentified shrimps as symbionts.
Predators: Flamingo tongue snails, Cyphoma spp., are frequent predators of Pseudoplexaura species.
Recommendation - the coral should be kept in a species-specific tank.
Feeding
Gorgonians do not have zooxanthellae and do not live off light. Azooxanthellate gorgonians do not host symbiotic algae that produce nutrients and energy through photosynthesis.
The pumps should be switched off before feeding. In order for the gorgonian to survive in the aquarium, each individual polyp must be fed sufficiently, i.e. daily or 3-4 times a week. Without feeding, the gorgonian will not survive in the aquarium. The polyps need a certain amount of time to absorb the food (granules or dust food (Ultramarin, Cyclop Eeze) or frozen food (lobster eggs, mysis)). If shrimp and fish are present, they will try to steal the food, so it is essential to feed these cohabitants beforehand.
Newly introduced gorgonian sticks can be stimulated with a liquid food, e.g., PolypLab Polyp, to encourage the individual polyps to open. Only then can feeding be carried out.
The better the individual polyps take up the food provided, the better the growth and reproduction rates will be.
Azooxanthellate corals eat suspensions, marine snow, microplankton, and other organic matter, which is their natural food.
Plexaurella grandiflora should keep well in marine aquaria, its rather small size would also be an advantage, as would the presence of zooxanthellae.
Synonyms:
Plexaurella braziliana Verrill, 1912
Plexaurella cylindrica Verrill, 1912
Plexaurella pumila Verrill, 1912
Plexaurella verrucosa Verrill, 1912
