purple gorgonian

So, I was at the LFS today, and they had a gorgonian sitting on the counter in a bag. They said it was a photosynthetic variety, and that it was sitting in the bag since Saturday night (a full 48 hours) just on the counter (steady high 60's, I think, for temp). It had extended polyps, and perfect coloration still. They gave it to me for free, as they said it wasn't really something they planned on having or keeping; a guy had dropped it off and said that his GF got it as a frag, but didn't want it. Nice random score, huh?

I was wondering what kind of care these guys need. It seems ok in my tank right now, but wanted to make sure I got specifics right about flow, lighting, etc. I have it around the 1/3rd mark, in high current. It's getting some movement, and not touching anything. I crazy glued in the bottom so it's pretty well anchored into some hollowed out barnacles.

 

Should be good there.

 

Awesome.

I'm also reading that they usually need supplemental feedings in a few places. Do you know what kinds of foods are ideal for them?

 

They do like their flow, Mine gets occasional left overs from cyclopeeze when I feed.

Mines an SC Silver Gorg (photosynthetic) And it Does love flow! Ive had it a little over a month or so now. At 1st I thought it was a gonner, the bottom 2 inches died. But then It stopped and grew branches all over like crazy. But If you were to feed I know cyclops does well for mine.

 

It's funny, every gorg I've seen in the LFS that has been glued or epoxied onto something has a section at the bottom that's dead. Even on the LFS owner's own personal tank (he keeps it at the store), the bottom little bit is dead. Not quite the two inches you describe, but a small section. Maybe they can't quite take crazy glue/epoxy very well?

I'm gonna feed little bits of cyclopeeze from now on, just so it can grab some leftovers. Thanks for the help guys!

 

God luck and congrats! Its probably not 2" but Im pretty shotty when it comes to guessing size of things behind glass and in water with their magnification.

 

Score; that's sweet placement sounds good... congrats!

 

Here's a pic. It's really hard to take a good pic of something that's the same color as the background haha! I think a movie might be a better format to get the image across:

 

Looks very nice I like the thin branches. Did you ever get an idea on type?

 

I haven't the slightest clue what type it is. Don't goronians usually need to be dissected to tell down to species?

"Indestructible purple gorgonian" is what I'm going to call it, though, given its resilience in that bag and to 0 acclimation, not even temperature, before I put it in the tank. ;D