Is this gorgonian dead?

[40g]

Brought it home about 3 weeks ago, was closed when I got it. After about 2 days it opened, but never fully. For about a week now it’s been completely closed. How do I know if it’s dead?!

It’s on med-low light, medium flow.

Alk - 10.2
No3 - 5.4
Sal - 1.026
Cal - 420
Mg - 1710! (What the?)
Po4 - no idea because I bought the wrong reagent!

Maybe it’s high phos? But most other coral doing fine (except for my acan which is being a little b****) come to think of it I have an octospawn who’s not fully extended too but that’s another thread. Algae very low though.

Right. Gorgonian.

What do you think? Dead?

Thanks ya’ll

 

[dennis romano]

That looks like a non photosynthetic Caribbean gorgonian. The must be fed small foods. It isn't dead. When dead, the red flesh will fall off. They have a poor survival record.

 

[40g]

Will watch for falling red flesh, thanks! A few polyps came out today, promising. I've been dosing phytoplankton twice a week, and also reefroids every 3rd day. Do you recommend something in addition to this? Cheers!

 

[CrimsonTide]

Your Gorgonian definitely has to be fed. It will eat phyto and reefroids. I would put it in the about the highest flow possible. It loves flow. When it's polyps are out I would just toss in a little reefroids in the flow. You'll see it eating. All the polyps catch food its pretty cool. I would say just feed small doses of reefroids more often for the gorgonian for awhile when it's open. Thankfully though you don't really have to worry about lighting as it's not photosynthetic.

 

[40g]

Gorgonian happy today