Caulastrea shrinking

[Gligor]

Hello everyone. I have this caulastrea for 3 weeks. Everything was perfect ntil 3 days ago when the lower head started to shrink (not yet exposing skeleton, just it isn't fluffy as it used to be). The last thing I did wrong is I feed it larger piece of frozen shrimp that I bought from the supermarket (I live in a small town and here we don't have coral food). The poor head was struggling to eat it, but finally after 2 hours it swallowed the piece. After that event it never fluffed up as much as before. I was thinking it might be something else, but the other two larger heads are as fluffy as ever. I also feed them with the same shrimp from the supermarket.

 

[TX_REEF]

the heads will inflate and deflate throughout the day, and over days. I wouldn't worry too much. Just make sure it isn't being blasted with too much flow on that head, that can certainly cause shrinking and recession.

 

[Uncle99]

Feed it?
Why?

Photosynthetic Corals do not need any direct feeds ever.

Corals expand to capture light.


Iam not sure why direct feeding has become the norm, in nature it rarely happens.

Stressed out, hope it recovers.

 

[Gligor]

the heads will inflate and deflate throughout the day, and over days. I wouldn't worry too much. Just make sure it isn't being blasted with too much flow on that head, that can certainly cause shrinking and recession.

That is the only low flow area in my tank. The head is definitely not blasted with flow.

Feed it?
Why?

Photosynthetic Corals do not need any direct feeds ever.

Corals expand to capture light.


Iam not sure why direct feeding has become the norm, in nature it rarely happens.

Stressed out, hope it recovers.

I'm new to the reef community, and I read that is good to feed the candy cane

 

[TX_REEF]

That is the only low flow area in my tank. The head is definitely not blasted with flow.

I'm new to the reef community, and I read that is good to feed the candy cane

I'd just give it time and see how it goes, most likely will recover if conditions are good. I feed mine as well, but I use frozen mysis/brine shrimp soaked in microvert so the size is more manageable.

 

[Gligor]

Update
One month later the situation is basicly the same. The lower two heads are exactly the same, not dying nor inflating. The upper two heads are starting to grow. The flow on the lower two heads is exactly the same as the upper ones.
What could this be?

 

[Gligor]

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[TX_REEF]

I can say from experience that changes in nutrients, especially nitrate, can cause this. I have a similar frag that has 2 heads retracted most of the time and another 3 heads fluffy. Do they all put out their feeder tentacles at night? I wouldn't worry overall.

 

[Gligor]

I can say from experience that changes in nutrients, especially nitrate, can cause this. I have a similar frag that has 2 heads retracted most of the time and another 3 heads fluffy. Do they all put out their feeder tentacles at night? I wouldn't worry overall.

I couldn't say, I turn the lights on around 4pm when I get back from work, and turn them off around 11pm or 12 before i go to bed. I haven't added any new fish to the tank or changed anything since i started the tank.