Purple Sea Whip Care Guide
Pterogorgia anceps, the purple sea whip, is a hardy Caribbean photosynthetic gorgonian with flat purple blades for high-flow marine aquaria.
Overview
Pterogorgia anceps is a Caribbean photosynthetic gorgonian, an octocoral with flat purple blades, sold as the purple sea whip or sea blade. WoRMS records the common names forked sea feather and angular sea whip. Like other gorgonians it is a colony of polyps, each with eight pinnate tentacles, and it is regarded as hardy.
Taxonomy
- Family: Pterogorgiidae
- Genus: Pterogorgia
- Scientific name: Pterogorgia anceps (Pallas, 1766)
- Class: Octocorallia; Order: Malacalcyonacea
- WoRMS AphiaID: 290922 (accepted); former combinations Gorgonia anceps, Xiphigorgia anceps
Habitat and biology
The species occurs in the Caribbean. It is zooxanthellate, relying largely on photosynthetic symbionts while its polyps also capture plankton. As a flexible gorgonian it favours shallow, high-flow areas.
Aquarium care
Pterogorgia anceps is a passive, reef-, shrimp- and fish-safe coral suited to intermediate keepers. It does not require intense lighting due to its photosynthetic biology, but it does need high flow to keep the blades clean. It is best added to an established tank of at least about three months.
Tank requirements
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- Salinity: 1.024-1.026 SG
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Alkalinity (dKH): 8-11
- Calcium: 380-450 ppm; Magnesium: 1280-1350 ppm
- Nitrate: ≤15 ppm; Phosphate: ≤0.1 ppm
- Lighting: 75-175 PAR (medium); Flow: high
- Growth rate: 0.3-0.8 cm per month (tree-like)
Feeding
Beyond photosynthesis, the colony benefits from supplemental amino acids and phytoplankton filtered from the water column.