Chili Coral

[sp1187]

I bought this in April. It opened like this until late September and then shrunk and no polyp extension.
I was thinking about removing it, as I was starting to become concerned it would start breaking down in the tank.
No param changes in the tank.
A week ago it started opening up again, although not yet to this size. Polyps are extending again.
Anyone have experience with these? Do they sometimes go dormant like some leathers?
Thanks.

 

[Jseimo]

Are you feeding it regularly? Since they are nps

 

[sp1187]

Are you feeding it regularly? Since they are nps

was daily, until it closed up completely overnight.
I have multiple other nps that are doing well.

 

[MixedFruitBasket]

I have a tiny bit of experience and yes, they do seem like they will, on occasion, just curl up for a while. I have found that if I continue to feed it through these times it opens faster. I often wonder if it's the coral's way of reserving energy when it thinks food sources are low.

 

[MrWheelock]

Mine is finicky also, I have found that it actually likes more light than I thought. I started it in a completely shaded area and it wasn't happy. I then moved it out a little to slightly more light and flow and its happy and opening again. I don't feed mine anything regularily except for a few times weekly it gets some broadcast of reef roids. It does not seem to grow much, so I'll be dosing phyto and another filter feeder food.
In the picture it is really mad, also doesnt help that my female clown likes to cover it with sand. (Don't mind the circled shell with the feather duster)

 

[sp1187]

I have a tiny bit of experience and yes, they do seem like they will, on occasion, just curl up for a while. I have found that if I continue to feed it through these times it opens faster. I often wonder if it's the coral's way of reserving energy when it thinks food sources are low.

interesting thought.
I'm feeding 3 cubes of frozen plus a tablespoon off fish eggs nightly, and Benereef 3 times a week.
https://benepetsfoods.com/products/benereef
don't think food is an issue.
what I found strangest was it wasn't a gradual shut down. from that pic to the arms completely receded and zero polyps open.

 

[sp1187]

Mine is finicky also, I have found that it actually likes more light than I thought. I started it in a completely shaded area and it wasn't happy. I then moved it out a little to slightly more light and flow and its happy and opening again. I don't feed mine anything regularily except for a few times weekly it gets some broadcast of reef roids. It does not seem to grow much, so I'll be dosing phyto and another filter feeder food.
In the picture it is really mad, also doesnt help that my female clown likes to cover it with sand. (Don't mind the circled shell with the feather duster)

mines in lowlight area. everything I've ever read claims they prefer lowlight. interesting yours prefers more.
when I purchased it from a lfs, it was there for a few months, it was mostly closed up with only a few polyps opening.
took a chance on it and wasn't disappointed.

 

[MrWheelock]

mines in lowlight area. everything I've ever read claims they prefer lowlight. interesting yours prefers more.
when I purchased it from a lfs, it was there for a few months, it was mostly closed up with only a few polyps opening.
took a chance on it and wasn't disappointed.

I just took it from full shade to half shade. I believe my issue could possibly be more along the lines of flow. When my clown leaves it alone it opens nicely. I also got mine from my LFS cause they had it for awhile and it was really grumpy like in the picture I sent.

 

[sp1187]

moved it.
so we'll see if it likes it's new location better.