Plexaura flexuosa - (Sea Rod)
"Aimee, you gotta get down here."
Every so often, we dedicate a day to exploration. We'll study charts, satellite imagery, and bottom maps before heading out to investigate places we've never collected before.
On one of those trips, diver Thomas was the first one in the water. Instead of staying to collect, he surfaced and said:
"Aimee, you gotta get down here."
He knew what we had been hoping to find...Purple Candelabra Sea Rods (Plexaura flexuosa). And not just a single colony, but a healthy population from which we felt comfortable selectively and sustainably collecting and introducing as a comeback offering from Gulf Coast Ecosystems.
For us, this species represents everything we love about exploration: research, a little luck in the vast ocean, and occasionally discovering something we've been searching for all along. Better yet, it's something many of our customers have been searching for too!
What You Get
The Purple Candelabra Sea Rod is a striking Caribbean gorgonian known for its deep purple coloration and branching growth. Its candelabra-shaped form adds a unique but natural element to aquariums of any size.
When extended, hundreds of tiny tan to white polyps emerge from the colony, creating a fuzzy appearance and a dimensional contrast against the solid purple branches. Polyp extension may vary throughout the day depending on flow, feeding, and aquarium conditions.
While Purple Candleabra Sea Rods can be sensitive during shipping, acclimated and established specimens are hardy photosynthetic gorgonians that adapt readily to aquarium life when provided with moderate to strong water movement and stable reef conditions. As the colony matures, it develops additional branches and a more intricate growth form.
Because Purple Candelabra Sea Rods occur naturally in a variety of shapes and branching patterns, every specimen is unique. And if you'd like multiples, also check out our site for the Lavender Candleabra Sea Rod!
Why It’s GORGeous
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Color: Striking purple with contrasting white to tan fuzzy polyps.
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Movement: While the Sea Rod itself should only slightly sway in the flow, the extended polyps give the gorgonian a very active look.
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Placement: Keep algae and debris off the branches, and place it mid-tank.
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Collector personality: These gorgonians are perfect for enthusiasts who want a hardy, colorful, not-often-offered piece in their aquarium.
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Natural variation: Subtle differences in branch thickness, shape, and tone keep each colony unique.
Sizing & Availability
Each Sea Rod typically ranges from 4-6 inches in height, with its exact shape determined by natural growth and collection site. All are mounted to standard reef plugs. We have found several established colonies that we will sustainably frag to ensure regular availability. We do have a few larger specimens, email us if you're interested.
Traits
Color Purple
Ease Intermediate (hardy once established)
Classification Photosynthetic Sea Rod
Nutrient Uptake None. It's a gorg. ;)
Use Display specimen
Lighting Moderate
Flow Moderate; alternating
Availability Limited new offering!
A Note from the Collectors:
Every gorgonian we offer is hand-collected, acclimated, and observed by our team before shipping. While we carefully try to remove hitchhikers, it’s possible that a few “goodies” from the reef may tag along. It's a natural part of receiving genuine wild-collected specimens!
Gorgonians like this Sea Rod will arrive with polyps withdrawn from transport. Under moderate steady flow, lighting, and with regular feeding, they typically reopen and resume normal extension within a short time.
We ship via 2-Day service on Mondays and Tuesdays only to ensure specimens arrive healthy. You’ll receive tracking information as soon as your order ships.
