Grooved-blade Sea Whip

About

The grooved-blade sea whip (Pterogorgia guadalupensis) is a gorgonian coral native to the subtropical Western Atlantic, ranging from the waters off Belize northward through the United States and into Canada. Like other sea whips, it grows as an upright, branching colony with a flexible, whip-like structure that sways gently in the current. Giving reef tanks a sense of natural motion that few other corals can match. The name comes from the distinctively grooved, blade-shaped branches that set it apart from rounder-stemmed gorgonians. As a sessile animal, it stays fixed in place and feeds by extending tiny polyps to capture passing particles from the water column. This species is considered one of the more approachable gorgonians for hobbyists who haven't kept soft corals before, tolerating moderate light and moderate flow without demanding the highly specialized conditions that some of its relatives require. It is reef safe and poses no threat to neighboring corals or invertebrates. If you're looking to add some vertical structure and gentle movement to a mixed reef without taking on a demanding species, this sea whip is a solid choice worth considering.