Jeff Stauffer, USA
Info
Pacifigorgia darwinii is the most abundant species of the genus in the Galapagos Islands.
Pacifigorgia darwinii forms colonies with kidney-shaped fans that branch from a single mount.
The polyps of the gorgonian are white or yellow in color, and the coenenchyma is dark reddish-purple in color.
The coral is firmly anchored on solid substrate between 3 - 26 metersdepth.
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.
The elevations resulting from the retracted polyps vary from yellow to cream or white - San Cristobal (yellow, cream or white); Isabela (cream or yellow), Fernandina (yellow), Floreana (white).
The colonies studied are up to 250 mm in size, dark purple, with yellow or white oval rings, and have open and uniform reticulate branching.
Most colonies consist of 2-3 parallel compartments. The branches are up to 1.5 mm in diameter.
The stem is short, not more than 5 mm high, without distinct midribs.
The oval elevations resulting from the retracted polyps are generally flat and form yellow, cream or white rings around the polyp openings, usually arranged in two longitudinal rows on most branches and in several rows (4 or 5) on the thicker branches.
Synonym: Gorgonia darwinii Hickson, 1928
Very special thanks for the first great phoho of Pacifigorgia darwinii to Jeff Stauffer, USA!
Pacifigorgia darwinii forms colonies with kidney-shaped fans that branch from a single mount.
The polyps of the gorgonian are white or yellow in color, and the coenenchyma is dark reddish-purple in color.
The coral is firmly anchored on solid substrate between 3 - 26 metersdepth.
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.
The elevations resulting from the retracted polyps vary from yellow to cream or white - San Cristobal (yellow, cream or white); Isabela (cream or yellow), Fernandina (yellow), Floreana (white).
The colonies studied are up to 250 mm in size, dark purple, with yellow or white oval rings, and have open and uniform reticulate branching.
Most colonies consist of 2-3 parallel compartments. The branches are up to 1.5 mm in diameter.
The stem is short, not more than 5 mm high, without distinct midribs.
The oval elevations resulting from the retracted polyps are generally flat and form yellow, cream or white rings around the polyp openings, usually arranged in two longitudinal rows on most branches and in several rows (4 or 5) on the thicker branches.
Synonym: Gorgonia darwinii Hickson, 1928
Very special thanks for the first great phoho of Pacifigorgia darwinii to Jeff Stauffer, USA!
