Bent Sea Rod

Eunicea flexuosa is a Caribbean gorgonian long known as Plexaura flexuosa and called "bent sea rod" in English. The colony consists of thin, flexible rod branches that fork in pairs from a short trunk; it grows in the shape of a bush or candelabra. Branch color ranges from beige to dark ocher, and purple or bluish forms also occur. With the polyps open, the branches take on a brown, velvety look. Because it carries zooxanthellae in its tissue, it is much easier to keep in the aquarium than non-photosynthetic gorgonians. Choose aquacultured pieces over wild-collected colonies.

• Strong light (about 150–300 PAR) and strong, changing flow; in gorgonians good flow is the most important condition for success.
• The middle zone of the rockwork; the base should be fixed upright and securely with glue in a rock crevice or on a frag plug.
• Salinity 1.024–1.026, KH 7–11 dKH, calcium 400–450 mg/L; it is sensitive to sudden changes in pH and salinity.
• The branches occasionally shed a thin film; the polyps may stay closed while this happens.

It feeds by photosynthesis, but supplementing with fine phytoplankton and zooplankton 1–2 times a week improves polyp extension and growth. Turning the pumps down for a few minutes during feeding helps the food reach the polyps.

It does not attack neighboring corals, but its tissue is damaged if it ends up beneath stinging LPS or crust-forming encrusting corals. Because the branches sway in the current, leave clear space around it equal to the length of the branches. Butterflyfish, some angelfish and gorgonian-eating snails (Cyphoma) eat its tissue.