Knobby sea rod
Eunicea sp.
Also known as Knobby Gorgonian, Sea Rod
SaltwaterCoral
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–81°F
- 23–27°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 17.7 in
- 45 cm
- Minimum tank
- 26 gal
- 100 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Photosynthetic
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe
- Family
- Plexauridae
- Origin
- Caribbean and tropical western Atlantic, including South Florida and Panama
Overview
The knobby sea rod is an upright, branching gorgonian for a brightly lit reef tank. It is one of the more forgiving gorgonians available.
Did you know
Sea rods like Eunicea largely build the swaying gorgonian forests that cover South Florida and Caribbean hardbottom. A cultured knobby sea rod brings a small piece of that landscape into a reef tank.
Caring for the knobby sea rod
Epoxy the base of a knobby sea rod to rock, in bright light with moderate to strong flow. It suits the same tanks as sea plumes. Growth is upright and steady, so leave headroom and a little space from neighbors. It will never sting them.
It needs a tank of at least 26 gal (100 L). Hold the water at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4.
Like the sea plumes and sea blades it grows beside, it carries symbiotic zooxanthellae and gets most of its food from light. It photosynthesizes, so feeding is optional, though its big polyps will take fine plankton foods when offered.
Good to know
Eunicea is a Caribbean genus in the family Plexauridae with many look-alike species. That is why cultured colonies are usually sold at genus level rather than with a species name. The raised knobs along the branches, called calyces, are the protective cups the polyps withdraw into. They stay prominent even when the colony is fully retracted. Aquarium stock is cultured in Panama at Bocas Mariculture rather than collected from the reef.
In the wild
Knobby sea rods grow on shallow reefs and hardbottom throughout the Caribbean and the tropical western Atlantic. They form upright, candelabra-shaped clumps of thick tan to brown branches. When the large, fuzzy polyps extend, the whole colony turns a deep chocolate brown.
Common questions
What size tank does a knobby sea rod need?
A knobby sea rod needs at least 26 gal (100 L).
What temperature and pH does a knobby sea rod need?
A knobby sea rod is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
What does a knobby sea rod eat?
A knobby sea rod carries symbiotic zooxanthellae and gets most of its food from light. Feeding is optional, though its big polyps take fine plankton foods.
How big does a knobby sea rod get?
An adult knobby sea rod reaches about 17.7 in (45 cm).
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