Black branching sun coral

[gobyofdeth]

Need some advice on this litltle guy that the pet store gave me for a challenge. I have him under a ledge too protect him form the 250 MH as they don't like a lot of light. Have spot feed him every second day and still can't get him too do much. Need too have this guy thrive. Thanks in advance for any advice that is given.

 

[stsweene]

mine is doing well, the outer layer is peeling in a few spots but most of the polyps still come out for feeding, I feed DT's and cyclo. I dont have MH though, 192PC and 75VHO. They def. dont require intense light.

 

[gobyofdeth]

Thanks for the tip. Still can't get it too open though. When I spot feed him,HE will only open the tips on the branch ends.

 

[lockemup]

I think they go through changes where they won't come out for a while. My orange ones are under a ledge and in a good shadow but lately they don't come out very much like they used to.

 

[promisetbg]

Each and every polyp must be fed individually on this coral..and several times a week.Gobyofdeth..what are you feeding,and at what time of the day? Try feeding at night...some cyclop-eeze..DT's oyster eggs,encapsulated artemia,coral vibrance,the juice from mysis shrimp,..something fine.

 

[gobyofdeth]

I feed with kent Marine chroma plex and Bio plankton. Nightly and still nothing just open his mouth and takes it in. no polyps come out.

 

[viper_930]

Both of those products (phytoplankton in general) are too small for the sun coral to eat, they are not filter feeders. They need solid meaty foods like mysis shrimp, krill, etc.

 

[reeffer]

my orange sun corals are fed nightly with mysis or brine(frozen) mine have grown extremely well. all the above is correct too, you need to feed each one if possible. what i do is feed the fish their bed time snack, shut off lights, and use a turkey baster to squirt a LITTLE food their way(even if closed) they open (within 5 min) then use the baster to very gently blow mysis or brine onto their tenticles.

 

[rappa]

Put a little bio-plankton in there before the lights go out, an hour later mine are out fully waiting for me to give them their meal...

 

[reeffer]

looks like two scavengers are getting a meal as well

 

[reeffer]

Originally Posted by Rappa
Put a little bio-plankton in there before the lights go out, an hour later mine are out fully waiting for me to give them their meal...

did you use tweezers to put each mysis on there? or just a baster? i use a baster but it can make a mess and not everyone always gets some.

 

[rappa]

I just shut the flow off completely, and use a turkey baster. They grab right onto the Mysis and you can turn the flow back on within a few minutes. Takes two minutes total feeding time. Easy...

 

[reeffer]

maybe i need a baster with a smaller mouth, because that is exactly what i do. thanks

 

[rappa]

You need to just go very light squeezing that thing!!! lol I can make them come out one at a time if I want. Slow down a little and you will make it happen!

 

[tizzo]

I had a black one also... I gave it to the LFS cause it was to much maintanance. But I tookk mine out of the tank and fed it in a seperate tupperware bowl, so as not to compromise my water quality with so many feedings. I had mine in a convenient spot in the tank for easy removal. They do not need light, but it will not hurt them. I also fed mine cyclop-eeze and mysis shrimp.