Whip Corals in Temperate Reefs

[invincible569]

Does anyone have any experience with Whip corals? Just wondering if corals like this could survive in an aquarium. Here's some info and pics from Oceanwide Images

Scuba diver exploring temperate deep water reef comprised of whip corals, sponges, zoanthids and anemones. Bicheno, Tasmania, Southern Australia

[invincible569]

pic 2

[invincible569]

pic 3

[Diesel3443]

Never seen tem in a reef tank, but if they arent agressive it would be cool to see them sway back and forth with a wavebox

[Ger]

Edward, there are both photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic Sea Whip corals. The ones pictured look like Junceella. Just like other gorgonians, I'd expect them to do well in a reef tank as long as they are photosynthetic. BTW, some of them can get very long...

[Aquatic Image]

Yeah it would be cool to have in a tank if it would survive. I cant say that I have ever seen them on the list to order though.

[Ger]

Yeah it would be cool to have in a tank if it would survive. I cant say that I have ever seen them on the list to order though.

You are right Dustin, I think it's because they look kind of plain unless you get close.

Here is a closeup I took in Malaysia.

[invincible569]

Thanks Gary!

Do you guys think it would be hard to collect these type of corals? Do they also come in a variety of colors? Wouldnt it be nice if they fluoresced really beautiful in our lighting? Hmmm.. I wonder how we can get our hands on some to try out? Or are they that deep where no one collects them?

[invincible569]

Ah.. so its true. Dont let the coral importers see this as the price will get marked up!.

http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/bla...recoralphotos/

Members of the Octocorillea subclass, Antipathidae family, here are photos of what are commonly named Black, and Wire or Whip Corals. Some of the most rare, intricate, and beautiful species in the world, these soft corals live in widely spread colonies at depths to which the average diver never descends, and therefore are seldom seen.

I would of thought that these coral would live off in LOW flow, but it looks like they dont:

Usually found at deeper depths on cliffs in high current areas.

[invincible569]

You would probably have to feed your tank with rich meaty foods at night in order to keep them alive I assume. It also depends on which coral you have as Gary stated. Here's a pic of the whip coral feeding (small newly born fish) at night:

Source: http://www.reefnews.com/reefnews/pho.../softpolp.html