Is this RFA a goner?

Aparker2005 · Jul 15, 2021

Hey guys. We recently picked up 2 RFA from our local store and have fallen in love with them. Our 2 we've had for about 2 weeks are doing excellent. Tank parameters are all good.

We tried a 3rd yesterday. Our lfs ordered it for us. When it arrived, it had a ton of white, thick pus looking stuff coming from its mouth. The bag didn't smell very well either, which concerned me.

It would not attach yesterday after acclimation. It was on the other end of the tank when I got up.

I moved it to a rock and shut my pumps off. It slowly attached finally. Gave it a few pellets and it looked like it tried to eat.

Just came back to the tank, and now it's looking rough again. The color is still there, but it's still got this thick stuff all in the center.

Is it a goner, or not until it loses color?

Also, a picture of our very healthy red one.

lapin · Jul 15, 2021

Dont feed it . It is sick. It will just stress it more.
They are pretty hardy so I would not mess with it for a week.
Frozen is better than pellets. Easier to digest.

Naso180! · Jul 15, 2021

It looks like it was torn by a pump. I'd keep an eye on it for a few hrs but if pieces start coming off, like it looks, I'd remove it. Or at least put it in an isolation net. You really don't want necrotic tissue polluting your tank.

Marinelifelover · Jul 15, 2021

Yeah that does not look good at all. Im suprised the color is still there but it definitely looks like its on its way out. I agree to isolate it if possible or keep a very close eye to remove it before that smell and necrotic tissue hurts the tank

Aparker2005 · Jul 15, 2021

The colors at the moment look better than anytime in the last 24 hours which is weird to me as well.

I could put it in my qt system, but our amphipods literally kill almost every soft coral we put in that tank

Lost in the Sauce · Jul 15, 2021

It looks like that thing was damaged removing it from it's prior home.

REM2021 · Jul 15, 2021

As long as it's solidly attached to something there's a chance it will pull through, but it doesn't look too good. If the QT isn't a good choice because of the amphipods, do you have (or can you DIY) an acclimation box in the DT that you could move the rock to? I've had nems die and they dissolve very quickly--it's a real pain to try to scoop them out. I've been lucky and never had one nuke a tank, probably a combination of catching the death quickly, doing a 20% WC and running carbon, so I'm always inclined to wait until something is clearly dead before I give up on it. Good luck, hope it turns a corner! RFAs are awesome and as long as they aren't injured, generally pretty hardy.

Aparker2005 · Jul 15, 2021

REM2021 said:
As long as it's solidly attached to something there's a chance it will pull through, but it doesn't look too good. If the QT isn't a good choice because of the amphipods, do you have (or can you DIY) an acclimation box in the DT that you could move the rock to? I've had nems die and they dissolve very quickly--it's a real pain to try to scoop them out. I've been lucky and never had one nuke a tank, probably a combination of catching the death quickly, doing a 20% WC and running carbon, so I'm always inclined to wait until something is clearly dead before I give up on it. Good luck, hope it turns a corner! RFAs are awesome and as long as they aren't injured, generally pretty hardy.

Unfortunately we don't. It's definitely attached though, and it's tentacles move some when the pumps go off. Color is still beautiful.

Hopefully it turns a corner, but it's gonna take a lot with its current look.

Dolphins18 · Jul 15, 2021

Things are incredibly tough, I would not be surprised if it heals especially if color is returning. Just monitor it and if it gets a lot worse flush it.
Also look at the foot, if it is holding on, it should be ok. They can survive a lot, but a damaged foot they typically can't come back from. If its holding on tight, its foot is probably fine.