Admin Meerwasser-Lexikon
Info
Pacifigorgia rubicunda is an azooxanthellate reticulated gorgonian known so far only from a few areas in the Eastern Pacific.
The denser the net of the gorgonian's branches, the more plankton can become entangled in the coral's tissue.
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.
Habitat:
This species of gorgonian grows on vertical rock faces of rocky reefs or on large individual rocks covered mainly with algae, sponges, and bryozoans.
Pacifigorgia rubicunda also grow in rock crevices and ledges where they reach their maximum size.
This species occurs together with Pacifigorgia irene and Pacifigorgia cairnsi, but has also been found alone on deep rocky reefs.
Remarks.
Colonies of this species were generally found in very poor condition, mostly torn with only small living fragments (40-50 mm).
Colonies are not very numerous and live close together on the same rocks.
Very many azooxanthellate gorgonians live in a commensal relationship with echinoderms e.g. Ophiothela mirabilis, the starfish find abundant plankton prey on the corals and also some protection from predators (hiding place).
Naming:
The species name "rubicunda" is an adjective and stands for the colors orange, yellowish and red.
The denser the net of the gorgonian's branches, the more plankton can become entangled in the coral's tissue.
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.
Habitat:
This species of gorgonian grows on vertical rock faces of rocky reefs or on large individual rocks covered mainly with algae, sponges, and bryozoans.
Pacifigorgia rubicunda also grow in rock crevices and ledges where they reach their maximum size.
This species occurs together with Pacifigorgia irene and Pacifigorgia cairnsi, but has also been found alone on deep rocky reefs.
Remarks.
Colonies of this species were generally found in very poor condition, mostly torn with only small living fragments (40-50 mm).
Colonies are not very numerous and live close together on the same rocks.
Very many azooxanthellate gorgonians live in a commensal relationship with echinoderms e.g. Ophiothela mirabilis, the starfish find abundant plankton prey on the corals and also some protection from predators (hiding place).
Naming:
The species name "rubicunda" is an adjective and stands for the colors orange, yellowish and red.
