This popular species of Halymenia is native to the Indo-Pacific Ocean which was imported into the United States as an ornamental algae for the aquarium trade. It’s unclear when or how it was first introduced in the United States, but is widely cultivated today by numerous hobbyists and coral farmers. Unlike other species of Halymenia, the tissue on this particular macro algae isn’t as thin and is slightly rigid. It features a deep red coloration and a brilliant orange-yellow fluorescence at the tips of each individual frond. It’s a very hardy species once established but grows in cycles so should be divided regularly to preserve the algae.
Scientific Name: Halymenia durvillei
Common Name: Dragon’s Breath
Origin: Indo Pacific
Maximum Height : 10″
Growth Rate: Moderate
Light: Moderate to High
Temperature: 76-82
Propagation: Fragmentation, Sporulation
Difficulty: Easy
Food Value: Somewhat Palatable
Nutrient Uptake: Good
Flow Rate: Moderate