Angular Sea Whip

About

The angular sea whip (Pterogorgia anceps) is a gorgonian coral native to the Western Atlantic, found along reef systems from Belize up through the waters of the United States and Canada. In the wild it inhabits relatively shallow zones, typically within the top nine meters or so, where it anchors itself to hard substrate and filters passing water for food. Its branching structure grows in a flattened, angular pattern, hence both the common name and one of its alternate names, forked sea feather, giving it a distinctly architectural silhouette compared to rounder, bushier gorgonians. Like other sea whips, it is a sessile animal, staying put and relying on water movement to deliver nutrients to its polyps. In the aquarium, it is considered one of the more accessible gorgonians for hobbyists who are earlier in their reefkeeping journey, which is not something you can say about most NPS or photosynthetic gorgonians. It does well under moderate lighting and appreciates steady, moderate flow to keep its polyps active and prevent sediment from settling on its branches. It is reef safe and generally peaceful with other inhabitants. Keeping the water quality consistent and the flow reliable are the main things to focus on with this species.