Gorgonian seems to be shedding

[Hemmdog]

Hello!,

This is my first gorgonian, I got it a few days ago. It seems to be shedding today? And these rigid little bumps are showing on its arms. This one is photosynthetic I was told, any tips would be appreciated.

Alk 9.2
Cal 440
Mag 1380
Nitrate 5
Phos 0.06
1.025

Pic when I first got it

Thank you for taking the time to read my issue, suggestions are appreciated!

 

[Big G]

Yes, mine do the same. It's how they get rid of algae that is building up on their skin. Sometimes I can't stand looking at it and use a soft toothbrush to "gently" move the process along.

 

[reef lover]

+1 and those bumps are the polyps looking like they wanna come out...

 

[Big G]

See what you started. Right now, I'm up to my elbows "toothbrushing" my gorgs. LOL

 

[Hemmdog]

See what you started. Right now, I'm up to my elbows "toothbrushing" my gorgs. LOL

Lol ok well that’s good news they aren’t dying. Thank you for the intel!

 

[Hemmdog]

+1 and those bumps are the polyps looking like they wanna come out...

Niceee hopefully soon they will come out! I had no idea!

 

[Big G]

FWIW, gorgs take awhile to adjust to a new tank and the light levels. Here's a great site that gives a nice overview on gorgs:
http://garf.org/36/gorgallabout/allaboutgorgs.html

 

[Hemmdog]

FWIW, gorgs take awhile to adjust to a new tank and the light levels. Here's a great site that gives a nice overview on gorgs:
http://garf.org/36/gorgallabout/allaboutgorgs.html

Awesome! Thank you !

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have gorgs running wild. Was this by chance out of water for a brief moment when unbagging??
Salinity plays a role as does good water movement. Salinity range 1.025-1.027

 

[Hemmdog]

I have gorgs running wild. Was this by chance out of water for a brief moment when unbagging??
Salinity plays a role as does good water movement. Salinity range 1.025-1.027

Yea, only the bottom half inch when I was applying the glue to the base.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Yea when I was applying the glue to the base.

Gorgs HAVE TO remain wet and immersed. Once out of water, survival rate is 10% or less. Even unbagging has to be done under water. same applies to sponge

 

[Hemmdog]

Gorgs HAVE TO remain wet and immersed. Once out of water, survival rate is 10% or less. Even unbagging has to be done under water. same applies to sponge

I had no idea . Well I know for the future and to help educate others. It does seem to look fairly healthy underneath what has shedded off. Polyps are now out on the ridges, it’s a much cooler/more interesting coral than I originally thought for sure! I hope I’m the 10%!

 

[reef lover]

I hate to argue but ive had one sea whip and sea blade like the ops come in completely dry and made it just fine...

 

[A sea K]

I hate to argue but ive had one sea whip and sea blade like the ops come in completely dry and made it just fine...

Same here. Standard run of the mill brown photosynthetic gorg from the caribbean. I've had it out of the water several times over the years and it is healthy as can be, never showed any sign of stress.
This is not to say it is a good idea, simply my personal experience as I was not aware of the potential problem

 

[Ron Reefman]

Gorgs HAVE TO remain wet and immersed. Once out of water, survival rate is 10% or less. Even unbagging has to be done under water. same applies to sponge

You are 90% right about sponges, almost all of them are condemned to a slow death (potentially over a couple of months) if they are removed from the water for even a few seconds. But there are a few that can survive that short exposure. I'm not sure your info about gorgonians being out of the water is absolutely true. Here is why I say that:

I collect gorgonians in the Florida Keys when we go snorkeling. I've lifted them out of the water to look for things on the coral that I either want, like a Flamingo Tongue, or don't want, like a clump of slimy algae. And then it's out of the water again when I load it into the container on our boat, again when it gets put in storage back at our motel and yet again when it gets home and put in the reef tank. Now all of these are relatively short exposures to the air, probably 30 seconds or so.

However, I also occasionally collect a gorgonian off the beach along the Gulf of Mexico and these have been exposed to air (and in some cases air in the 40 to 50 degree range, for 1 to 4 hours! Seriously. And my success rate with them surviving is better than 90%. Here is one I collected during a beach walk on a cold winter morning. It did just fine in my tank and it got sold along with a 120g tank and other corals about 2 years after we collected it.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I was in the pet industry and it was always a warning. I have never let them out of water and perhaps a coincidence but their little polyps are sensitive and I keep them wet as an assurance.
This rules applies not to the gorgonian but their mucus film on their stems.

 

[Hemmdog]

You are 90% right about sponges, almost all of them are condemned to a slow death (potentially over a couple of months) if they are removed from the water for even a few seconds. But there are a few that can survive that short exposure. I'm not sure your info about gorgonians being out of the water is absolutely true. Here is why I say that:

I collect gorgonians in the Florida Keys when we go snorkeling. I've lifted them out of the water to look for things on the coral that I either want, like a Flamingo Tongue, or don't want, like a clump of slimy algae. And then it's out of the water again when I load it into the container on our boat, again when it gets put in storage back at our motel and yet again when it gets home and put in the reef tank. Now all of these are relatively short exposures to the air, probably 30 seconds or so.

However, I also occasionally collect a gorgonian off the beach along the Gulf of Mexico and these have been exposed to air (and in some cases air in the 40 to 50 degree range, for 1 to 4 hours! Seriously. And my success rate with them surviving is better than 90%. Here is one I collected during a beach walk on a cold winter morning. It did just fine in my tank and it got sold along with a 120g tank and other corals about 2 years after we collected it.

Wow that is beautiful!

 

[CindyKz]

Same here. Standard run of the mill brown photosynthetic gorg from the caribbean. I've had it out of the water several times over the years and it is healthy as can be, never showed any sign of stress.
This is not to say it is a good idea, simply my personal experience as I was not aware of the potential problem

This has been my experience with 3 different gorgs also.

 

[shred5]

Gorgs HAVE TO remain wet and immersed. Once out of water, survival rate is 10% or less. Even unbagging has to be done under water. same applies to sponge

Not true.. I have about 12 + different gorgonia and they come out of the water plenty when I frag or add to another tank.


Sponges on the other hand there are some varieties that can not come out of water or air gets trapped in them but it is not all sponges either. I also grow sponges some of them have no issues out of the water.

This is one of my sponges that do just fine being removed from the water..

 

[vetteguy53081]

Not true.. I have about 12 + different gorgonia and they come out of the water plenty when I frag or add to another tank.


Sponges on the other hand there are some varieties that can not come out of water or air gets trapped in them but it is not all sponges either. I also grow sponges some of them have no issues out of the water.

This is one of my sponges that do just fine being removed from the water..

Ok- from suppliers and wholesalers- always been a warning due to Mucus film that protects them. Hmmmm.
Sheboygan here. I see you are waukesha