Giant Caribbean Slit Pore Gorgonian
Plexaurella nutans
Featured guide
This will pull the most popular / featured article tagged to this species.
Water parameters
Water parameters are being added.
About Giant Caribbean Slit Pore Gorgonian
General information
In general, gorgonians coming from the genus Plexaurella has a distinct feature that is characterized by their pores having individual slits. At a glance they look like any other gorgonian species, however taking a closer look at their skeletal structure gives you an identifying mark through its 4-rayed butterfly spicules in the cortex.
As for the Giant Caribbean Slit Pore Gorgonian, they are predominantly colored light brown with white tentacles. This are the water parameters for cultivating Giant Caribbean Slit Pore Gorgonian:
- Calcium: 420 – 440 ppm
- Alkalinity: 2.86 – 4.259 MEQ/L (8 – 12 dKH)
- Phosphates: > 0.10 mg/L
- Magnesium: 1260 – 1350
- Strontium: 8 -10 mg/L
- Temperature: 72° – 78° F (22° – 26° C)
- Salinity / Specific Gravity: 1.023 – 1.025
- pH: 8.1 – 8.4
Diet & nutrition
The Giant Caribbean Slit Pore Gorgonian is not a photosynthetic species. They get their nourishment by snatching small foods present in the water like plankton. Supplemental feeding is highly advised where you can give them brine shrimp and mysis.
Determining sex
The Giant Caribbean Slit Pore Gorgonianshould be placed at the bottom portion of the tank. You may need a gel glue or putty to fasten them on an exposed rock.
Breeding & spawning
The Giant Caribbean Slit Pore Gorgonian only requires minimal lighting but a strong flow of water. This is the reason why they should be placed at the bottom of the tank.
Origination
The Giant Caribbean Slit Pore Gorgonian are a subtropical species found in the Western Atlantic Ocean, particularly in the USA and Canada.
Cautions
While the Giant Caribbean Slit Pore Gorgonian is not aggressive, you still need to give ample space between other species corals. What you should be cautious is during the handling process since the branches are highly brittle and can easily break off.
Acclimation process
Giant Caribbean Slit Pore Gorgonian are purely marine species. Therefore, salinity must be entirely maintained from 1.023 to 1.025 specific gravity.
Related articles
These will pull posts tagged to this species (not tied to the species record).
All photos
No photos yet.