Corky Sea Finger

The corky sea finger is the Caribbean relative of green star polyps and belongs to the same genus, Briareum. The colony can spread over rock like a crust, or it can send up thick, upright finger-shaped rods with a cork-like texture from this base. The surface of the rods is covered with small bumps; a long, thin, brown-green polyp emerges from each bump, and with the polyps open the colony looks furry. It lacks the horny inner axis of true gorgonians. Colonies on sale are mostly wild-collected; aquacultured pieces are hard to find.

• Strong light (about 150–300 PAR) and moderate to strong, random flow.
• The middle or upper-middle zone of the rockwork; upright forms should be fixed securely in a rock crevice or on a frag plug.
• Salinity 1.024–1.026, KH 7–11 dKH, calcium 400–450 mg/L, magnesium 1250–1350 mg/L.
• From time to time it sheds a thin film from its surface; the polyps may stay closed for a few days while this happens.

It photosynthesizes thanks to its zooxanthellae, but it is also a good filter feeder. Feeding phytoplankton, rotifers or very fine zooplankton food 1–2 times a week noticeably speeds up its growth.

It does not sting; however, its crust-like spreading base can grow over other gorgonians and slow-growing corals. Leave at least 15 cm of clear space around it. Butterflyfish and some dwarf angelfish may pick at the polyps; make sure the gorgonian-eating flamingo tongue snail (Cyphoma) does not come in with the colony.