How do I know if my new coral is DOA?

[Sick_man]

Hi everyone, im planning to do my first order soon and I am wondering how to tell if my coral is dead. The place I'm buying from is cherry corals and they only offer a 2 hour guarantee which is kinda short. How would I tell if they are alive if it takes more than 2 hours for a new coral to open up?

 

[sixty_reefer]

What kind of coral you ordering? Different corals got diferente methods to see if they alive or not

 

[ScottR]

Take a pic of it immediately and can post here. Someone can help you. Different corals have... uh... different ways of looking dead.

 

[Cell]

If you arent sure, just snap a pic and post here once you get them acclimated. Cherry Corals is pretty top notch though so I wouldnt be too worried.

 

[Miller535]

I have also received corals that are open or partially open in their shipping container.

And being that it's your first order if you stick with beginner friendly coral you should definitely be fine.

 

[Cell]

I have also received corals that are open or partially open in their shipping container.

While it's always nice to receive open corals, it's not always an indicator of frag viability.

 

[Miller535]

While it's always nice to receive open corals, it's not always an indicator of frag viability.

No but the op asked about doa, if they are open they are not doa

 

[Sick_man]

What kind of coral you ordering? Different corals got diferente methods to see if they alive or not

An acan and a blasto, Im kinda worried about the acan though, I heard they lose color when in a new tank over time. Anyway to prevent this?

 

[ScottR]

An acan and a blasto, Im kinda worried about the acan though, I heard they lose color when in a new tank over time. Anyway to prevent this?

Assuming your tank is ready for them, they benefit from feedings. Do you have any corals at the moment? Some people have great luck with acans and others not so much.

 

[Miller535]

An acan and a blasto, Im kinda worried about the acan though, I heard they lose color when in a new tank over time. Anyway to prevent this?

Those are both really hardy corals imo. As far as the acan and color, the color is going to shift and change after it's in your tank. Acans are famous for being chameleon having their colors change from even just a difference in lighting. I have never heard of them losing color from a new tank. But I suppose they could if a new tank had poor water quality. I would just make sure you have good water quality.

 

[Sick_man]

Assuming your tank is ready for them, they benefit from feedings. Do you have any corals at the moment? Some people have great luck with acans and others not so much.

Yeah I have a duncan, frogspawn, sinularia, gorgonian, zoa, torch, and goniopora. I've been buying from offerup and local people so I haven't paid more than 40 for a coral. The acan is 60 and I really dont want it to change color or im gonna get buyers remorse

 

[Sick_man]

Tank is doing great so far so i think they will survive

 

[Miller535]

Yeah I have a duncan, frogspawn, sinularia, gorgonian, zoa, torch, and goniopora. I've been buying from offerup and local people so I haven't paid more than 40 for a coral. The acan is 60 and I really dont want it to change color or im gonna get buyers remorse

It's going to change color some. Thein from Tidal gardens has a video about this.

But I believe their tidal of the video is micromussa as the name/classification has changed. Thein explains this also in the video.

I believe this is the video.

 

[Sick_man]

It's going to change color some. Thein from Tidal gardens has a video about this.

But I believe their tidal of the video is micromussa as the name/classification has changed. Thein explains this also in the video.

I believe this is the video.

Yeah I watched that and some other videos and a lot of them said they change or lose their inital color. I may just order from wwc aftersale since they got a 10 day guarantee. however, their acans are not the best

 

[ScottR]

It's going to change color some. Thein from Tidal gardens has a video about this.

But I believe their tidal of the video is micromussa as the name/classification has changed. Thein explains this also in the video.

I believe this is the video.

Thein is the best. I absolutely love buying wild corals because they are drab and sometimes color up under different lighting. Trying this with some wild acans now.

 

[Miller535]

Thein is the best. I absolutely love buying wild corals because they are drab and sometimes color up under different lighting. Trying this with some wild acans now.

He really is, which is why tidal gardens is really my go to place. Ben who works for them is awesome also.

 

[spiraling]

For acans and blastos, you can ususally tell if they are dead since they will look and smell like rotting flesh. Those ship pretty well. With both you should be able to see some color under lights, particularly blue lights if they are alive.