Corky Sea Finger Gorgonian
A variant of Gorgonian Sea Fan (Gorgonia ventalina)
Representative Gorgonian Sea Fanphoto — a dedicated image of this exact morph isn't available yet.
A thick, purple-to-tan branching gorgonian with stubby, 'corky' finger-like arms and white-to-tan polyps that give it a fuzzy halo when open.
📜 Backstory
Listed as the 'Corky Sea Finger' / 'Corky Finger Photosynthetic Gorgonian' by Pacific East Aquaculture, KP Aquatics, Oceans Garden, and seahorse-focused vendors like Seahorse Savvy. Sources consistently identify it as *Briareum asbestinum* (an encrusting Caribbean gorgonian), not the *Pseudopterogorgia bipinnata* it is sometimes mislabeled as. It is one of the staple beginner photosynthetic gorgonians of the Caribbean trade and is frequently aquacultured. A descriptive common name rather than a branded morph; origin is wild Caribbean stock propagated by the vendors.
Keeper tips for this variant
Mount on rock in medium-to-high light and medium-to-strong flow; one of the most forgiving gorgonians, it tolerates a wide range of conditions. It is photosynthetic but will also benefit from occasional plankton feeding.