Slap happy gorgonian

[sloshes]

I can't tell ya how much I love this stuff.

http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/3001/p10101191vk.jpg

http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/7359/p10101182au.jpg

[Fat Surgeon]

Looks pretty-pretty Slosh. I almost got one the other day just like it at the LFS. Had another one that was a dull yellow and it was nice also.

[sloshes]

Thanks, buddy. This one didn't look too sharp when I got it from the LFS a month ago. It stayed in my 55 for 3 weeks and has really blossomed since being moved to my 20 gallon soon-to-be seahorse tank. It's fun to watch it explode at feeding time and water changes.

[Fishfreak218]

i have one of those... according to wetwebmedia this species has low survival rates.. doing ok for 6-12 months and then.. dead... watch out.. heavy feeding and high flow..

[WarEagle79]

Very cool!

[sloshes]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7366284#post7366284 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fishfreak218
i have one of those... according to wetwebmedia this species has low survival rates.. doing ok for 6-12 months and then.. dead... watch out.. heavy feeding and high flow..

Thanks, I have read a lot about that. I'm am feeding heavily and really want to see this guy flourish.

[Cnidae]

low survival rates is right. I kept two of them alive for years. a yellow and a red but you need to feed them twice a day and make sure each polyp get something to eat, that will keep them alive but if you want them to grow doubling that feeding would be a good start.

[sloshesv]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7372568#post7372568 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Cnidae
low survival rates is right. I kept two of them alive for years. a yellow and a red but you need to feed them twice a day and make sure each polyp get something to eat, that will keep them alive but if you want them to grow doubling that feeding would be a good start.

What were you feeding?

[sloshesv]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7375788#post7375788 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sloshesv
What were you feeding?

Pretty please? Think of the gorgonian.

[Cnidae]

I was feeding Eriks recipe but blending till it was really small and target feeding each polyp.

[sloshesv]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7378079#post7378079 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Cnidae
I was feeding Eriks recipe but blending till it was really small and target feeding each polyp.

Erik's recipe? Do you have a link? TIA

[Samala]

This was in Eric's old forum, and might be what Cnidae used: Eric's famous coral food recipe (http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=176530).

>Sarah

[sloshesv]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7381887#post7381887 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Samala
This was in Eric's old forum, and might be what Cnidae used: Eric's famous coral food recipe (http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=176530).

>Sarah

Thanks, buddy!

[sloshesv]

Holy carp, Batman! I work and have kids so I don't see that happening. But don't worry everbody, I'll keep you updated on their health.

[parothead22]

Unfortunaltey, these species of Gorgonian(diodogorgia) are aposymbiotic so lighting isn't a factor, however, target feeding is a must! The problem with this type of Gorgonian and Pterogorgia( purple sea blade) for example, is that they have microalgae that grows pretty easy on them causing them to die if not removed carefully and religiously.
It is unfortunate, that these Gorgonians don't have a proven track record of success in the long run.

[sloshes]

They're still alive and happy.

[sloshesv]

I'm target feeding everyday, not with Eric's though, and my hermit crabs are pretty religious about keeping it clean.

[sloshes]

It's ragin' happy tonight!

[sloshes]

How often should a yellow gorgonian be target fed?

[Gary Majchrzak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7403321#post7403321 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by parothead22
The problem with this type of Gorgonian and Pterogorgia( purple sea blade) for example, is that they have microalgae that grows pretty easy on them causing them to die if not removed carefully and religiously.
It is unfortunate, that these Gorgonians don't have a proven track record of success in the long run.
Careful. Pterogorgia is photosynthetic and is fairly easy to maintain under bright lighting. Diodogorgia (the yellow gorgonian seen in this thread) isn't photosynthetic and needs to be fed regularly.

[sloshes]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7440020#post7440020 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gary Majchrzak
Diodogorgia (the yellow gorgonian seen in this thread) isn't photosynthetic and needs to be fed regularly.

How regularly?

[Gary Majchrzak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7440202#post7440202 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sloshes
How regularly?
It depends. Each aquarium is different. If your aquarium doesn't have a refugium or doesn't (naturally) produce a lot of zooplankton you might want to feed your Gorgonian once every day.
Are you going to let your 'horses perch on it?

[sloshes]

They do perch on it. It's one's night time hitching post, though it stays totally open for most of the night. I've been target feeding every day, which means a do a LOT of water changes. I'm thinking that with a tank this small, the minimal filtration and the very good flow I have that they get bathed continually. Obviously I'd like to cut back a little to ease the changing schedule but not to the detriment of my gorgonian. It's pretty darn cool seeing that horse hooked up to that gorgonian when it's exploding.

[sloshesv]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7440322#post7440322 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sloshes
They do perch on it. It's one's night time hitching post, though it stays totally open for most of the night. I've been target feeding every day, which means a do a LOT of water changes. I'm thinking that with a tank this small, the minimal filtration and the very good flow I have that they get bathed continually. Obviously I'd like to cut back a little to ease the changing schedule but not to the detriment of my gorgonian. It's pretty darn cool seeing that horse hooked up to that gorgonian when it's exploding.

Am I way off here?

[Dani Arnanz]

It´s a Diodogorgia nodulifera.

It´s better to put it in low ligthing areas, because of it´s a non photosynthetic coral, and in high ligthing areas it could be covered by algae o cyanobaterias, which could kill it.

A friend have one, he feeds the tank with live Brachionus plicatis every day; at first the Diodogorgia didn´t open, here are some pics:

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d56/joanxavier/gorgoamarilla.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d56/joanxavier/gorgoniaamarilla.jpg

He has only obeserved to respond to Brachionus, not to phyto or other foods.

Some time feeding with zooplancton, and here are the result:

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d56/joanxavier/DiodogorgiaNoduliferaabierta.jpg

All pics by Joan Xavier the owner of the gorgonian.

Good luck,

Dani

[zarro]

very nice pics