First Favias...

[Steve Maxwell]

Hello,

I just purchased my first two Favias from LC and have a couple questions. For now I only have mushrooms and zoas, but am getting ready to start up a 75g that will have LPS & SPS as well. The sale was too good to pass up, so I purchased a Pineapple Express Favia & a Subzero Favia.

1) How much space should I leave between the Favias and any other coral? For now they will be sitting in a frag rack, but still need to know how far apart to keep them from everything else.

2) Should I direct feed them? If so, what should I use? I'm currently feeding my fish: pellets, frozen shrimp (every now and then) and whatever pods they eat on their own. I've heard some people say just to turn out the lights and just drop a couple pellets on the coral. Not sure if this would work as my piggy clownfish would probably sweep in and nab it.

Thanks!

 

[Mirya]

I'm relatively new to favias, but I've had a few in my frag tank doing pretty well. (I have a few more coming from LC tomorrow too!) However, I'll happily bow to anyone with more experience. But from how mine have behaved:

1) Depends on the favia. Some have significantly longer sweeper tentacles than others. I have one unnamed favia that puts out 2" sweepers. That being said, I expect the Pineapple Express based on its shape will have moderate length sweepers (@ 1"). I have the Subzero favia, and it has dinky little sweepers (0.25"). Therefore you will probably want to keep the Pineapple Express about 2" from other things whereas the Subzero can be pretty close. However, just watch out what is close to it! I had an acan that got too close to my Subzero and the acan definitely won. Fortunately it only hit a corner of the colony.

2) They love to be fed! Not necessary, but it does seem to help their growth. If you are occasionally feeding frozen shrimp, you can squirt some in their direction when you do feed it. You don't want to overfeed the coral either. They will eat pellets. They will down the pellets faster if their tentacles are out already -- which they usually do at nighttime.