Blueberry Gorgonian

[Chraddam]

Is there ANY good method to keep this alive? I scored one today from an LFS (I was scouring the swap for one and had no luck, and then saw it today on a random trip to an LFS!!!) and have read a lot of stuff on other boards(which quickly turned into flamewars...). Here's what I know...low to medium light and placement, they need lots of feedings of filter food, and they need to be placed in medium flow for full polyp extension so they can feed. The one I got is at least the size of my open, outstretched hand, and has a purple and orange body with incredible blue polyps that glow like they are on fire. This pic isn't mine, but it is an excellent shot of this awesome coral-

PS- I have a red gorgo with white polyps, only like 5 or 6 arms/legs/whatever they are called, and have had it for a year now. Will I have that kinda luck with the Blueberry???

 

[prattreef]

Very tough to keep, but if you feed it regularly a variety of foods you might have some success.

 

[Chraddam]

With the other red one, I feed 2x/week with brine shrimp and a concoction of frozen stuff that I came up with. And daily phytoplex. I am hoping for the same luck with this guy, it is an absolutely stunning animal!

Very tough to keep, but if you feed it regularly a variety of foods you might have some success.

 

[masterswimmer]

Agreed, it is a stunning animal. The problem I've found with them is they need to be fed and with that I've seen tanks being overfed and therefore high readings of PO4. I don't see many make it. I hope you can succeed, because once again, fabulous animal. One of my favorites.

Good luck
Russ

 

[UnknownWaters]

I think you should consult with Domboski on this matter he helped walk me thru the care for my gorgonians and so far so good a year and a half later thanks Dom.

 

[Chraddam]

Agreed, it is a stunning animal. The problem I've found with them is they need to be fed and with that I've seen tanks being overfed and therefore high readings of PO4. I don't see many make it. I hope you can succeed, because once again, fabulous animal. One of my favorites.

Good luck
Russ

Here's my plan for starting care. 2 or 3x/week, shut down flow for a few minutes and spot feed phyto with a baster. Then alternate and do the same with brine shrimp. Hopefully this will work. And I will look up Dombowski and see what he thinks!

 

[Awibrandy]

Jeff, I wish you all the best in keeping this animal alive!:hug: I have tried twice, and will never try it again.:sad2:I fed Oyster Feast, Roti Feast, Photoplankton, Tobbiko eggs, Mysis Shrimp, Rod's Food. Polluted my tank to no avail.;( Although I fed it daily I watched this beautiful animal dwindle to nothingness. My gorgonians, Red w/White polyps, Purple Plumes, Yellow w/White polyps, Purple Sea Whip, Orange all are doing great! Unfortunately the Blueberry & the Orange w/Yellow polyp sea fan have been spiraling down hill. Such a horrible site to behold!:sad2:

PS I believe multiple daily feedings are needed.
Do reach out to Dom - [email protected]! Email him for a faster respond! I'm sure Dom can direct you much better then anyone else. The other person on this site I cannot remember his name, but he has that fabulous thread on keeping all this difficult to keep star fish & gorgonians.

 

[anthony27]

I agree with awildia, they need feeding and alot of it. Hit up google and see if there is any information on them.

 

[cowfish]

IMHO this is one of those species that needs to be left in the ocean.

My understanding (fron what I've read and been told) is that this type of gorgonian need a dedicated system with a lot of foods being introduced on near continuous basis. Low light is necessary to prevent algae build up on their external tissue. I donated one to Atlantis Marine World as they are doing research into asymbiotic corals and had such a system up and running. They were only able to keep the coral alive for about 6 months.

Good luck with your endeavor. I hope you will post what you do and the progress or lack thereof that is made to further our knowledge of this animal.

 

[Domboski]

I found they do better with lower temps 68-72 degrees. Sachs Aquaculture sells a powdered plankton that the blueberry gorg will eat. Nothing else worked for me. You can tell if the gorg is eating when the polyps grab the food (or close) and pull the tentacles completely inside the "stem". Don't be fooled because the gorg grabbed the food. I've seen many "catch" the food but never ingest it and it is easy to mistake this for eating.

I use to mix the powdered plankton in DT water and turkey bast it into the water current aimed at the gorg. It will grab what it wants from there. Do this 2-3 times a day.

Keep in mind that every gorgonian is built to catch and eat a certain sized food. The Blueberry will not eat mysis or cyclopeeze like your red finger does. There was a great talk a couple of years ago at NERAC where someone gave a lecture on their experiments with Dendronephthya and its requirements for food. Some of the same ideas pertain to Gorgonians and Sea fans. Flow and size of food play an important role on the eating habits. You may have to play around until you get everything just right but I gave you the info that gets you half way there, the food and how to recognize feeding. Now you have to get the flow right

Search MR for more information on them as well or email me for more details.

 

[Domboski]

BTW, thanks for the reco's everyone! :hug:

Its nice to hear that those late night messaging escapades paid off UnknownWaters! :lol2:

 

[fallenlordz]

excellent shot of this awesome coral-

WOW :bigeyes2:

 

[Chraddam]

You may have to play around until you get everything just right but I gave you the info that gets you half way there, the food and how to recognize feeding. Now you have to get the flow right

Search MR for more information on them as well or email me for more details.

Hey Dom-EXACTLY what I am doing...I did notice the grabbing and holding motion with diced frozen food(a concoction I made up a while ago that seems to work) and I also see it responding to Kelp flakes, of all things...the kelp just gets stuck on it, and the blue tentacles/polyps/"feathers"(as Kate calls them) seem to absorb it. I will update with some pics if I can catch it. And a BIG thanks to everyone for their input!!

P.S.- I saw Awilda's fans and pens and gorgos today... WOW, the ones that are doing good look beautiful!!!(Like the rest of her tank!!!)

 

[Awibrandy]

hahahaha

You should tell them the truth!LOL The blueberry is gone, and the orange/red seafan is about a third of it's original size.;(

The others do look great though.

May be I need to get some of your concoction.

Thanks for the visit guys!! I really enjoyed it.....