Red swiftia sea fan
Swiftia exserta
Also known as Orange Tree Gorgonian, Red Gorgonian, Red Polyp Octocoral
SaltwaterCoral
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 68–79°F
- 20–26°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 7.9 in
- 20 cm
- Minimum tank
- 20 gal
- 75 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Filter feeder
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Rare
- Reef safe
- Reef safe
- Family
- Plexauridae
- Origin
- Deeper western Atlantic reefs and ledges, Florida, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean
Overview
The red swiftia sea fan is a small, filter-feeding gorgonian for a shaded reef or seahorse tank. It is a coral for experienced keepers with time to feed it every day.
Caring for the red swiftia sea fan
Place a red swiftia sea fan in a shaded spot with moderate, steady flow to keep algae off the branches. It comes from deeper, cooler water, so it appreciates a tank at the cooler end of reef temperatures. It needs a tank of at least 20 gal (75 L). Hold the water at 68 to 79°F (20 to 26°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4.
It needs dedicated feeding to survive. Every polyp is a filter feeder that must catch zooplankton and fine particles itself. Ideally, offer several small meals of baby brine shrimp, rotifers and fine powdered coral foods every day. A drip from a dosing pump works well.
It is peaceful and popular in seahorse and other low-light systems. It counts among the easier of the truly non-photosynthetic gorgonians, but it is still a commitment. Be sure you can keep up the daily feeding before you buy one.
Good to know
The red swiftia sea fan is a gorgonian in the family Plexauridae. It is azooxanthellate, meaning it carries no symbiotic algae at all. Its colonies are small, sparsely branched fans in vivid red to orange. That color is pure pigment and has nothing to do with light. Cultured colonies from Biota have made this formerly wild-collected specialist available without touching the reefs.
In the wild
Swiftia exserta lives in the western Atlantic, from Florida through the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. Most colonies grow from around fifteen meters down onto much deeper ledges, walls and overhangs, where steady current delivers plankton. Their contrasting polyps stay open whenever food is passing. They sit out of direct sunlight, which suits an animal that takes nothing from light.
Common questions
What size tank does a red swiftia sea fan need?
A red swiftia sea fan needs at least 20 gal (75 L).
What temperature and pH does a red swiftia sea fan need?
A red swiftia sea fan is comfortable at 68–79°F (20–26°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
What does a red swiftia sea fan eat?
A red swiftia sea fan is a filter feeder that must catch zooplankton and fine particles itself. Give it several small meals a day of baby brine shrimp, rotifers and fine powdered coral foods.
How big does a red swiftia sea fan get?
An adult red swiftia sea fan reaches about 7.9 in (20 cm).
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