Prof. Dr. Charles G. Messing, (†), USA
Info
Very specíal thanks for the first photo of Eunicea tayrona to Prof. Dr. Charles G. Messing, Nova Southeastern University, USA.
Eunicea laciniata forms finger-shaped colonies of a few thick, long branches that grow in all directions from the base.
The branches make up > 50% of the colony height, have a diameter of 10 - 18 mm and bulbous tips.
Mucus: No mucus
Colour: Medium brown with dark polyps.
Recommendation - the coral should be kept in a species-specific tank.
Feeding
The majority of gorgonians do not have zooxanthellae and do not live off light. Azooxanthellate gorgonians do not host symbiotic algae that produce nutrients and energy through photosynthesis.
The pumps should be switched off before feeding. In order for the gorgonian to survive in the aquarium, each individual polyp must be fed sufficiently, i.e. daily or 3-4 times a week. Without feeding, the gorgonian will not survive in the aquarium. The polyps need a certain amount of time to absorb the food (granules or dust food (Ultramarin, Cyclop Eeze) or frozen food (lobster eggs, mysis)). If shrimp and fish are present, they will try to steal the food, so it is essential to feed these cohabitants beforehand.
Newly introduced gorgonian sticks can be stimulated with a liquid food, e.g., PolypLab Polyp, to encourage the individual polyps to open. Only then can feeding be carried out.
The better the individual polyps take up the food provided, the better the growth and reproduction rates will be.
Azooxanthellate corals eat suspensions, marine snow, microplankton, and other organic matter, which is their natural food.
Habitat: Lighter terrace reefs and on hard bottoms.
Remarks:
The branches are the thickest in the genus. Grows mainly by asexual reproduction, often via fallen stolon-like branches.
Source: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/octocoral_e_laciniata/
Eunicea laciniata forms finger-shaped colonies of a few thick, long branches that grow in all directions from the base.
The branches make up > 50% of the colony height, have a diameter of 10 - 18 mm and bulbous tips.
Mucus: No mucus
Colour: Medium brown with dark polyps.
Recommendation - the coral should be kept in a species-specific tank.
Feeding
The majority of gorgonians do not have zooxanthellae and do not live off light. Azooxanthellate gorgonians do not host symbiotic algae that produce nutrients and energy through photosynthesis.
The pumps should be switched off before feeding. In order for the gorgonian to survive in the aquarium, each individual polyp must be fed sufficiently, i.e. daily or 3-4 times a week. Without feeding, the gorgonian will not survive in the aquarium. The polyps need a certain amount of time to absorb the food (granules or dust food (Ultramarin, Cyclop Eeze) or frozen food (lobster eggs, mysis)). If shrimp and fish are present, they will try to steal the food, so it is essential to feed these cohabitants beforehand.
Newly introduced gorgonian sticks can be stimulated with a liquid food, e.g., PolypLab Polyp, to encourage the individual polyps to open. Only then can feeding be carried out.
The better the individual polyps take up the food provided, the better the growth and reproduction rates will be.
Azooxanthellate corals eat suspensions, marine snow, microplankton, and other organic matter, which is their natural food.
Habitat: Lighter terrace reefs and on hard bottoms.
Remarks:
The branches are the thickest in the genus. Grows mainly by asexual reproduction, often via fallen stolon-like branches.
Source: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/octocoral_e_laciniata/
