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AlgaemediumSaltwater

Mermaid's Fan

Udotea flabellum

PlantaeChlorophytaUlvophyceaeBryopsidalesHalimedaceae

📍 Caribbean and tropical Western Atlantic

Elegant fan-shaped calcified macroalgae on a slender white stalk. Grows in sandy areas near reefs and seagrass beds. A beautiful decorative species for low-flow areas of the display tank. Like Penicillus, it anchors in deep sand and has a natural lifespan of several months.

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Quick Facts

flow
low to gentle
note
calcified; provides calcium on die-off
role
beneficial — display
placement
deep sandbed
lightLevel
medium

Water it likes

ph
8.1–8.4
hardness
8–12 dKH
temperature
73–81°F (23–27°C)

Legality

No state or federal restrictions on record for this species.

Not legal advice, and possibly incomplete or out of date. Rules vary by state and locality and change over time — always confirm the current regulations with your state wildlife or agriculture agency before buying, keeping, or shipping this species.

Stats

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Kept by0 hobbyists