NOAA Okeanos Explorer
Info
Horn corals of the genus Nicella belong to the family Ellisellidae, gorgonian-like octocorals.
Unlike many other gorgonians, the species of the genus captivate with beautiful and intense colors.
In 1973 a new species was discovered in a deep reef habitat around Jamaica in the Caribbean and later named Nicella goreaui, the species name is dedicated to Dr. Goreau, the scientist who determined the species to be new.
One of the largest known colonies, it is 60 cm high and 59 cm in width, with a basal diameter of 3.8 mm and a 32 mm in width.
Color. Most colonies are usually bright orange with even lighter orange calyxes; some colonies are darker red-shell orange or even pure white.
Recommendation - the coral should be kept in a species-specific tank.
Feeding
The majority of gorgonians do not have zooxanthellae and do not live off light. Azooxanthellate gorgonians do not host symbiotic algae that produce nutrients and energy through photosynthesis.
The pumps should be switched off before feeding. In order for the gorgonian to survive in the aquarium, each individual polyp must be fed sufficiently, i.e. daily or 3-4 times a week. Without feeding, the gorgonian will not survive in the aquarium. The polyps need a certain amount of time to absorb the food (granules or dust food (Ultramarin, Cyclop Eeze) or frozen food (lobster eggs, mysis)). If shrimp and fish are present, they will try to steal the food, so it is essential to feed these cohabitants beforehand.
Newly introduced gorgonian sticks can be stimulated with a liquid food, e.g., PolypLab Polyp, to encourage the individual polyps to open. Only then can feeding be carried out.
The better the individual polyps take up the food provided, the better the growth and reproduction rates will be.
Azooxanthellate corals eat suspensions, marine snow, microplankton, and other organic matter, which is their natural food.
Unlike many other gorgonians, the species of the genus captivate with beautiful and intense colors.
In 1973 a new species was discovered in a deep reef habitat around Jamaica in the Caribbean and later named Nicella goreaui, the species name is dedicated to Dr. Goreau, the scientist who determined the species to be new.
One of the largest known colonies, it is 60 cm high and 59 cm in width, with a basal diameter of 3.8 mm and a 32 mm in width.
Color. Most colonies are usually bright orange with even lighter orange calyxes; some colonies are darker red-shell orange or even pure white.
Recommendation - the coral should be kept in a species-specific tank.
Feeding
The majority of gorgonians do not have zooxanthellae and do not live off light. Azooxanthellate gorgonians do not host symbiotic algae that produce nutrients and energy through photosynthesis.
The pumps should be switched off before feeding. In order for the gorgonian to survive in the aquarium, each individual polyp must be fed sufficiently, i.e. daily or 3-4 times a week. Without feeding, the gorgonian will not survive in the aquarium. The polyps need a certain amount of time to absorb the food (granules or dust food (Ultramarin, Cyclop Eeze) or frozen food (lobster eggs, mysis)). If shrimp and fish are present, they will try to steal the food, so it is essential to feed these cohabitants beforehand.
Newly introduced gorgonian sticks can be stimulated with a liquid food, e.g., PolypLab Polyp, to encourage the individual polyps to open. Only then can feeding be carried out.
The better the individual polyps take up the food provided, the better the growth and reproduction rates will be.
Azooxanthellate corals eat suspensions, marine snow, microplankton, and other organic matter, which is their natural food.
