What do gorgonian corals eat?
What do gorgonian corals eat?
They have eating habits that match those of both stony and soft corals. Consuming most of their food – plankton – at night, gorgonian polyps will extend their eight long tentacles, which contain stinging cells called nematocytes or cnidoblasts.
Is gorgonian photosynthetic?
It is more challenging to maintain this species, as they require supplemental feeding several times per week. This gorgonian is photosynthetic and requires a moderate amount of light depending on the amount of filter feeding food that is available.
Do gorgonian corals shed?
Some gorgonians shed a thin membrane layer, much like leather corals, every few days to help rid their tissue of algae and other irritants. Many stores do not keep gorgonians in good light or flow so they tend to be unhealthy. It is important that they have good color, polyp extension, and do not look crumbly or grey.
Are gorgonians aggressive?
It is thought but never proven Gorgonia may be more aggressive chemically than some other corals. Allot of people have issues and like to blame something and sometimes things get passed down that is not true.
What do you feed Gorgonians?
Muriceopsis flavida – Spiny Gorgonian These corals do best when they are placed in strong water flow. They can catch food as it is swept past them in the current. They are easy to feed on crushed flake food and frozen brine shrimp.
Do Gorgonians sting each other?
Gorgonians of different species will usually sting each other if they touch, and even members of the same species will retract their polyps in places where they rub together. The sting of most gorgonians is quite weak, so they tend to lose coral wars with pretty much everything.
Are Gorgonians hard corals?
THE “SOFT CORAL” CONUNDRUM But it’s also applied broadly to all coral polyp animals that aren’t stony – alcyonaceates, gorgonians, leather corals, others. Whereas hard corals build reefs, soft corals are colonies of animals that live on top of their reef skeletons.
