Finger Gorgonian

Diodogorgia nodulifera

Care Level	Advanced — non-photosynthetic, must be fed
Lighting	None required (NPS); prefers shade
Water Flow	Strong
Placement	Shaded cave, ledge, or overhang
Aggression	Peaceful
Coloration	Bright red or yellow branches with white/contrasting polyps

Overview

The Finger Gorgonian (Diodogorgia nodulifera) — also called the Red Finger, Yellow Finger, or Colorblastus Gorgonian — is a striking deepwater sea fan from the Caribbean. It comes in vivid red or yellow knobby branches dotted with contrasting polyps. Unlike the easier photosynthetic gorgonians (like the Purple Sea Plume), Diodogorgia is non-photosynthetic: it gets no energy from light and must be fed, which makes it a demanding, advanced coral.

Care & Placement

Because it is non-photosynthetic, place it in a SHADED spot — a cave, ledge, or overhang, away from bright light — with STRONG, turbulent flow to carry food to its polyps. It comes from deeper, dimmer water, so intense reef lighting is unnecessary and can encourage algae to overgrow its branches. Keep the branches clean and the water pristine.

Feeding

Must be target-fed — this is the whole commitment. Offer frequent fine foods (phytoplankton, marine snow, very fine zooplankton, coral foods) multiple times a week, ideally daily, when the polyps are extended. Inadequate feeding is the main reason these beautiful gorgonians slowly starve, recede, and are lost in typical reef tanks.

Propagation

Frag by cutting a branch and gluing/pinning the base to a shaded rock or plug; keep the cut clean to prevent infection. Propagation is uncommon given the feeding demands.

Cautions

ADVANCED, non-photosynthetic — do not buy one expecting it to live on light. It needs shade, strong flow, and heavy, frequent feeding, ideally in a tank set up for NPS corals. Watch for algae or cyanobacteria smothering the branches (a common failure), and keep it away from bright light. For most reefers this is a specialist “buy only if you can feed it” coral.