Sea Plume

Antillogorgia is the genus of the Western Atlantic "sea plume" gorgonians, formerly placed in the genus Pseudopterogorgia; the Caribbean species were moved to this genus in 2012. The colonies grow in a feather shape with a main branch and thin side branches lined densely along both sides; the color is mostly purple, sometimes yellowish or whitish. In the trade they are usually sold without a species name as "purple sea plume" or "purple frilly gorgonian"; A. bipinnata and the finer-branched A. elisabethae are the most frequently mentioned species. Because they carry zooxanthellae in their tissue, they are much easier to keep alive than non-photosynthetic gorgonians; there are, however, few records of the coarse-branched A. americana being kept long-term in aquariums.

• Strong light (roughly 150–300 PAR) and strong flow that changes direction.
• The middle part of the rockwork; the main stem is fixed upright in a crevice or on a frag plug with glue.
• Salinity 1.024–1.026, pH 8.1–8.4, KH 7–11 dKH; large and sudden changes in pH and salinity keep the polyps closed for days.
• Pieces produced in aquariums or on farms acclimate more easily than wild-collected ones.

It feeds by photosynthesis; supplementing with fine zooplankton or phytoplankton 1–2 times a week increases polyp extension.

It is peaceful and does not attack its neighbors. Fast-spreading soft corals and stinging LPS damage its tissue; keep the area where its branches sway clear. Butterflyfish, some angelfish and gorgonian-eating snails such as the flamingo tongue snail (Cyphoma) eat its tissue.