Id please.?

[birds fan]

This broke off a piece of live rock about 7 weeks ago and has been sitting on the bottom of my tank. It looks like it may be a piece of coral but I'm not sure. It’s about the size of a nickel. Is it a live coral or just a skeleton. It appears to be a bit larger than I remember. Can anyone id this or is it just nothing?

 

[michaeltx]

looks like a sponge or maybe a chilli coral not real sure though,.
Does it have polyps that come out of it and if so when do the come out?
Mike

 

[birds fan]

I don't really know. This thing is tiny. When would the polyps come out? At night? I've been adding Kent's Phytoplex for my cleaner clams to feed on. Would the coral also feed on that?

 

[perfectdark]

It does look like a shriveld up Chili. I would put it in the tank and see if it inflates at all. It wont eat if its all shrunken down like that. Then you'll know for sure. Im sure it would eat phytoplex, IMO Zoo plankton is prefered as its a larger organism than phyto. But it should eat both.

 

[birds fan]

Originally Posted by PerfectDark
It does look like a shriveld up Chili. I would put it in the tank and see if it inflates at all. It wont eat if its all shrunken down like that. Then you'll know for sure. Im sure it would eat phytoplex, IMO Zoo plankton is prefered as its a larger organism than phyto. But it should eat both.

It's been it that state since I purchase the LR. I guess it's likly a skeleton. Wouldn't I see it change color though?

 

[michaeltx]

if its a chilli then it can close and stay closed for months at a time and if its been hidden in the rock work you may not have seen it open up. they usualy open at night though similiar to sunpolyps.
Mike

 

[birds fan]

Originally Posted by MichaelTX
if its a chilli then it can close and stay closed for months at a time and if its been hidden in the rock work you may not have seen it open up. they usualy open at night though similiar to sunpolyps.
Mike

Should I place in a low light area? What kinkd of flow is needed? Also, should I superglue it to a piece of LR. It's sitting on the bottom of my tank and often gets knocked over by my snails and crabs.
Thanks

 

[texasmetal]

If it's a Chili coral/Carnation Coral it needs LOTS of plankton, marine snow, that type of additive. They prefer hanging upside down in darker areas.
I might add if it's that type coral, it's very hard if not impossible to keep alive long term.

 

[perfectdark]

Originally Posted by TexasMetal
I might add if it's that type coral, it's very hard if not impossible to keep alive long term.

Carnation Coral yes...However if it is indeed a chili coral they are very easy to care for. Nothing like a carnation, they are Low light leather corals and are nocturnal filter feeders. The also dont have the demand for food that carnations have. And enjoy moderate flow and a meaty diet, zoo plank, mysis, etc...

 

[birds fan]

I spent some time looking at coral photos on the web and it looks like it may be a red monti. Can anyone comment on this type of coral?