Hedge Carnation Coral
Gersemia fruticosa
A cold-water soft coral that brings polar ocean character to the specialty tank.
About
Hedge carnation coral (Gersemia fruticosa) is a soft coral from some of the coldest waters on the planet, native to the northern Atlantic, northern Pacific, and Arctic Ocean. In the wild it grows in boreal to polar conditions, turning up anywhere from relatively shallow subtidal zones down to depths well beyond 2,000 meters, which speaks to just how adaptable it is across pressure and light gradients. The colony form is branching and bushy, the hedgelike silhouette that gives it its common name, with the fleshy, carnation-like polyps that typify the genus Gersemia. Because of its cold-water origins, this coral occupies a pretty niche corner of the hobby. It isn't a candidate for the typical tropical reef setup, and keepers interested in it are usually running a dedicated cold-water or temperate marine system. Within that context it is considered approachable for beginners, needing moderate flow and moderate light rather than the intense conditions demanded by many SPS corals. If you have a chilled saltwater system and want something genuinely unusual that reflects the biology of northern seas rather than tropical reefs, this is a species worth seeking out.
Similar species
Other coral you might consider
Good tank mates
Species that tend to coexist peacefully with Hedge Carnation Coral
From the same region
Share the same natural habitat. Great for a biotope-themed tank
Frequently asked questions
- What water parameters does the Hedge Carnation Coral need?
- The Hedge Carnation Coral does best with a temperature of 72–78°F, a pH of 8.1–8.3.
- What does the Hedge Carnation Coral eat?
- The Hedge Carnation Coral is a filter feeder. It eats tiny particles suspended in the water and usually needs target feeding in a home tank.
- Is the Hedge Carnation Coral reef safe?
- The Hedge Carnation Coral is generally considered reef safe.