Sea Whip

About

Found anchored to the seafloor on tropical reefs around New Caledonia, Ellisella ceratophyta is a sessile gorgonian. A sea whip type coral that builds long, slender, unbranched or lightly branched colonies rather than the bushy fan shapes many hobbyists associate with soft corals. Like other ellisellid gorgonians, it grows in a characteristic elongated form that can add real vertical interest and a sense of natural reef structure to a display. Because source data on this specific species in captivity is genuinely limited, most practical guidance comes from what we know about close relatives in the sea whip family. These corals are generally suspension feeders, drawing nutrition from particulate matter and plankton passing through the water column, so good flow is important. Not to blast the colony, but to deliver a steady supply of food. Moderate lighting is sufficient, and it is listed as reef safe with a beginner-accessible care level, suggesting it is more forgiving than many gorgonians. That said, any sea whip will do best in a tank with stable water quality and regular feeding of fine particulate foods. If you are after something that looks genuinely different from the typical coral selection, this New Caledonian native is worth tracking down.