Regal Sea Fan

About

The Regal Sea Fan (Leptogorgia hebes) is a gorgonian coral native to the western Atlantic, found along the coastlines of the United States and Canada in subtropical waters. In the wild it anchors itself to hard substrate anywhere from relatively shallow water down to around 37 meters, where it filters passing plankton and organic particles from the current. Which tells you something important about how to keep it happy in captivity. Like other gorgonians, it grows as a branching, tree-like colony and relies on strong, consistent water movement to deliver food and carry away waste. This is not a photosynthetic coral in the way that many popular reef species are, so placement near intense lighting is less of a concern than making sure flow is robust and feeding is regular. That feeding requirement is honestly the main challenge with this species. It needs target feeding with fine zooplankton or other suitable particulate foods to thrive long-term, which puts it in the intermediate care category rather than being a hands-off addition. For a keeper who already has experience with non-photosynthetic or low-light filter feeders and understands the commitment involved, the Regal Sea Fan can be a genuinely rewarding and unusual piece in a species-appropriate reef system.