Goragonia death? What to do w/ the other one?

[Abscam]

I got a pair of Goragonia mounted on a cement plug from the unmetionables folks in Idaho earlier this year. One of the two has completely retracted and stayed retracted for about two weeks now - very suddenly w/o any apparent change in conditions. It touches up to the other Goragonia that has branched and is for all appearances, very healthy.

Although I did do a major scrub of the front Plexiglass to remove alagae build up around the same time.

There appears to be a bit of slim at the base of the affected animal. what should I do?

cut it off and toss it?
Cut it off above the slime and move it?
scrape the slime and leave it?

TIA
Abscam.

 

[newkie]

I'd suggest giving it moderate water movement (my purple gorgo does the same thing if water movement isn't strong enough) and feeding golden pearls and cryropaste. If you don't feed, it'll probably just waste away. You should probably feed pearls every other day to sustain them. HTH

[ December 12, 2001: Message edited by: greenbud ]</p>

 

[SPC]

What are the names of the Gorgs you purchased?
Steve

 

[Abscam]

I don't know...as I recall they weren't very specific and I haven't identified them yet.

It isn't a fan variety, but appears to be more of a branching type. brown is retracted, purple is doing fine, both have brownish polyps.

I'll try and snap a photo tonight and update this thread w/ picture.

[ December 13, 2001: Message edited by: Abscam ]</p>

 

[travis w 99999]

I have basically the same problem and posted a question regarding it. I bought a gorgonian combo plug from GARF. I also do not know the names. The one who won't come out and play is flat and skinny and has light brown polyps that come out either side (or did come out). The other ones are cylinderical like and have polyps coming out everywhere, and they are happy.

My skinny gorgonian has not come out for over a week now. I also have an algae growth - cynobacteria I think. Also, my Gorgonian has little copepods (I think) crawling over it.

I don't know what to do,

Thanks if anyone can help us,

Travis

 

[Abscam]

ok, so here is a slightly out of focus, shot through a somewhat algae laden plexiglass window...but should give you a basic idea of what is going on. I'll try and imrove my photo technics...

 

[Eat At Joe's]

For what its worth, I have two purple gorgonians similar to the ones you describe. Sometimes they decide not to come out for a week at a time and shed their skin (which looks like a brown layer of cyanobacteria as it sloughs off). No harm is ever done as they come back out eventually and are still doing great. The longest amount of time that I have seen one retracted was 3 weeks (when it got slimed by snail eggs and was extremely unhappy).

 

[Abscam]

ok, I cleaned the powerhead and directed it down and across it and the polyps are starting to come out....so looks like we are out of the woods.

I was told by LFS that they are quite hardy and not to give up on them....

 

[amber]

I have 4 gorgonians. Purple plume, yellow, red and a brownish one the the Borneman book says is a silver??? Anyhow, what I have learned is that they like the current! The purple one insists that the sea swirl hit it directly on each revolution!!! I see them keep their polyps withdrawn every once in a while but they do come out in a few days. I wouldn't worry about that. They must be fed. I am not pleased with what I am using (Liqi fresh,& marine snow) but then again that is because of what I've read....Just ordered DT Plankton. HTH AMBER

 

[MIKE NY1]

I have two gorgonian,Diodogoria Nodulifera, a red and a orange. I keep them in dark parts of the tank in medium current and they must be fed to survive. Mine also will stay closed for a couple of days at a time, but seem to know when there is food in the water because they open up.

Mike

 

[Abscam]

All seems well. Both animals are fully extended again. I cleaned the power head above them and have nice flow over them and they are happy.

Interesting one animal has 3 1.5 inch sprouts of new growth, the other one (which closed up) has not shown any growth.