Heterosiphonia gibbesii — Flamingo Feather Algae
The reef’s flamingo in full plume.
What You Get
A soft, feathery cluster of Heterosiphonia gibbesii with hundreds of ultra-fine, plume-like branchlets radiating from a central holdfast. Harvested from shallow Atlantic and Caribbean hardbottom, it often arrives pale cotton-candy pink and shifts toward deeper rose or crimson under bright aquarium lighting.
Because the tissue is delicate, gentle handling is recommended — fronds may fragment, but loose pieces frequently re-attach if tucked into crevices or rubble. It performs best with bright light, moderate, oxygen-rich flow to keep debris suspended, and sometimes prefers cooler water (68–75°F), though it can tolerate typical reef temps with strong aeration and circulation.
Why It Is Algaesome
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Flamingo-plume texture: Airy, feathery branching brings dramatic softness and motion.
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Color that transforms: Pale pink deepens to vivid red under high-quality reef lighting.
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Rare seasonal beauty: Patchy distribution makes it a sought-after collector’s display red.
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Fragile but resilient: Detached fronds can re-root and continue growing when secured.
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Low on the menu: most herbivores ignore it, keeping its feathery form intact.
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Showcase placement: this species thrives when nestled into rockwork, where it helps build dimension in the macroscape.
Sizing & Availability
Offered as a single clustered specimen ~4–5″ in diameter. Density, branching fullness, and coloration vary naturally by season, depth, and tank conditions. Availability is highly seasonal and often limited.
Traits
Color Pale pink turning deep red
Ease Moderate (delicate)
Classification Red Macroalgae
Nutrient Uptake Fair
Availability Seasonal & Limited
Use Display Feature
Lighting High / Bright
Flow Moderate (keeps fronds clean)
A Note from the Collectors:
Every macroalga we offer is hand-collected, acclimated, and observed by our team before shipping. While we carefully try to remove other algae, sponges, and tiny hitchhikers, it’s possible a few “goodies” from the reef may tag along — a natural part of receiving genuine wild-collected specimens!
Many species may arrive paler in color. This is normal — macroalgae shift pigments during transport to protect from light and stress. Color typically returns within a few days under good lighting and flow.
We ship via 2-Day service on Mondays and Tuesdays only to ensure specimens arrive healthy. You’ll receive tracking as soon as your order ships.
