Purple sea plume gorgonian

Care at a glance

The purple sea plume from the Caribbean forms slender, feathery branches that wave like plumes in the flow, with polyps that give the branches a downy look. It contains symbiotic algae and thus draws part of its energy from light.

It is one of the easiest gorgonians and grows steadily under moderate light and strong flow. Make sure it does not sit in a dead spot: in still water algae settle on the branches, which eventually costs it tissue.

Related species

• Sea plume gorgonian (Antillogorgia)Antillogorgia acerosa
• Photosynthetic gorgonianPinnigorgia flava
• Fox coralNemenzophyllia turbida
• Red tree gorgonian (non-photosynthetic)Diodogorgia nodulifera
• Acan echinataAcanthastrea echinata
• Long tentacle plate coralHeliofungia actiniformis