Lost cause?

WhitePanther93 · Jun 9, 2021

Back in may I received this candy cane coral from wwc.

Ever since I got it it’s looked like this. I’ve never seen any of the flesh that I see in online pictures. I originally had it a bit higher up, but I think I was seeing signs of bleaching so I moved it to the location you see here. I’ve tried feeding but haven’t seen any kind of reaction.
What do you guys think? Lost cause? Or just give it some time?

revhtree · Jun 9, 2021

NOT a lost cause at all! I personally would leave it as low as possible, in low flow and don't try to feed it. Do you have other corals and how are they doing?

NeonRabbit221B · Jun 9, 2021

+1 for its not a goner. How much higher in the tank did you have it before it started receding?

E.J. · Jun 9, 2021

If you can see flesh, it can make a comeback. I had a reef tank banished away in my unfinished basement, and since I didn't often go down there it got neglected at times. Only one coral really declined, a chalice, and after being relocated to an upgraded reef (I convinced my wife to let me upgrade to a larger tank in the living room), it grew back from sesame seed sized bit of flesh hanging on the skeleton.

WhitePanther93 · Jun 9, 2021

NeonRabbit221B said:
+1 for its not a goner. How much higher in the tank did you have it before it started receding?

It was always like that but as far as placement it was at the middle of the tank

WhitePanther93 · Jun 9, 2021

revhtree said:
NOT a lost cause at all! I personally would leave it as low as possible, in low flow and don't try to feed it. Do you have other corals and how are they doing?

I do have a bunch of others and they’re doing pretty good though my gorgonia has been a bit ticked off since yesterday when I added a nephthea. Actually everyone closed up after that. The gorgonia has just been slow to open back up.

I swear the difference between what I see and what the camera shows is kinda annoying.

Wasabiroot · Jun 9, 2021

I never give up on coral unless there is no flesh left. You'd be amazed how they can bounce back. I once had a blenny mow down two different favia to nearly skeleton and they regrew over several months. You'll know when it's probably dead because they smell much worse.