Sea Whip

About

Sea whip (Leptogorgia punicea) is a gorgonian coral native to the subtropical waters of the western Atlantic, found along the coastlines of the United States and Canada. In the wild it grows in relatively deep water, anchored to hard substrate where it filters nutrients from the current with its polyps extended. The colony forms slender, branching stems that typically display rich red to orange coloration, creating a feathery, tree-like silhouette that adds real vertical dimension to a display aquarium. Like most gorgonians, this species is sessile, meaning it stays put once placed and depends entirely on water movement to deliver food to it. That dependence on flow is one of the most important things to get right in captivity. Sluggish water leads to tissue recession fairly quickly. Feeding is the other major challenge, since these corals rely on capturing fine particulate matter and zooplankton rather than housing photosynthetic algae. Regular targeted feeding with appropriately sized planktonic foods is essential for long-term success. Overall it sits comfortably at an intermediate care level, rewarding keepers who pay attention to water movement and nutrition with a genuinely architectural presence in the reef tank.