Pink sea fan
Hicksonella sp.
Also known as Palauan Pink Gorgonian, Hicksmellia, Pink Gorgonian
SaltwaterCoral
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 11.8 in
- 30 cm
- Minimum tank
- 20 gal
- 75 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Photosynthetic
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe
- Family
- Isididae
- Origin
- Western Pacific reefs from Malesia to northern Australia, aquacultured in Palau
Overview
The pink sea fan is a bushy pink gorgonian that suits a first reef tank. It is one of the friendlier gorgonians and easy to keep.
Did you know
The pink sea fan is sold across the hobby under a genus name that does not exist. The spelling Hicksmellia has been copied from list to list for years, while the valid genus is Hicksonella.
Caring for the pink sea fan
Give the pink sea fan at least 20 gal (75 L), moderate light and moderate to strong, varied flow. The flow keeps its fine branches clean. Glue the base to rock in an open spot and give the branches room to sway. It is peaceful and will not bother anything around it.
Keep the water at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) with a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. It runs on photosynthesis and does not depend on a feeding schedule. Small weekly offerings of fine soft coral foods speed up its growth.
Good to know
The pink sea fan's genus, Hicksonella, sits in the family Isididae in the current octocoral classification, not with the classic sea fans. Unlike most gorgonians in the hobby, it hosts symbiotic zooxanthellae. Its exact species has never been published, so it is best treated as Hicksonella sp. It forms an airy bush of thin, spindly pink branches dotted with small pale polyps, and a mature colony sways in the current. It never develops the stiff, flat lattice of the Atlantic sea fans, staying loose and feathery instead.
In the wild
The pink sea fan grows on shallow reefs of the western Pacific, from the Malay Archipelago to northern Australia. The colonies in the trade are farmed by Biota in Palau.
Common questions
What size tank does a pink sea fan need?
A pink sea fan needs at least 20 gal (75 L).
What temperature and pH does a pink sea fan need?
A pink sea fan is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
What does a pink sea fan eat?
A pink sea fan runs on photosynthesis and needs no feeding schedule. Small weekly offerings of fine soft coral foods speed up its growth.
How big does a pink sea fan get?
An adult pink sea fan reaches about 11.8 in (30 cm).
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