Overfeeding/Underfeeding torch ?

[Mikemilly245]

Hey guys, first torch. Had it about 2 weeks or so. Am I feeding this right? I do this about every other day, along with RedSea Reef Energy Plus daily doses. Is this too much, too little, or just right ??

 

[Mikemilly245]

Bump

 

[rc8t6353]

I say as long as your nitrate and phosphate levels are ok, and the torch is healthy, have at it

 

[SandNRocks]

Im following along and would like to know what some other people think as well.

Based on my opinions/observations:

It looks like you are spot feeding correctly BUT i dont see any sort of feeding response that is typical to other LPS corals. Maybe the torch is full from other feedings (indicating maybe too much feeding), or maybe euphyllia feed using a different mechanism.

if you throw some food on an acan, duncan, candy cane, favia, etc you can see a clear feeding response where the feeding tentacles grab the food and take it in, or the food gets sucked in with the slime coat. You can literally watch them eat. When i watch youre video, the torch almost looks agitated and it works to remove all of the food from its body. It doesnt bring any into the center where its mouth is which makes me think its not eating.

I have the same issue. I have a small hammer that ive given both mysis and reef roids on different occasions. Same kind of response. It either shows no interest or works to get it off of itself. Now its one of the few corals i dont bother spotfeeding and havent noticed any difference.

I wonder if we’re potentially not using the right type of food or if there is some other factor, because i have seen hammer corals take food to their mouths before, and im sure torches do too.

I could be completely wrong about this all but thats how Ive been looking at it.
Anyways i would be very interested to hear what experiences other people have who spotfeed their torches and other euphyllia.

Thats a very good video you have there. It might be worth posting that in its own topic to discuss what the feeding response for torch coral should look like

regardless, keep up the good work because the torch looks great otherwise.

 

[Struggle]

I’m following along as well.

 

[Kasrift]

I don't think you have to spot feed a torch. It will grab mysis or whatever else you feed when you feed the fish if it needs something.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hey guys, first torch. Had it about 2 weeks or so. Am I feeding this right? I do this about every other day, along with RedSea Reef Energy Plus daily doses. Is this too much, too little, or just right ??

It looks about right and I too feed every other day

 

[Mikemilly245]

Im following along and would like to know what some other people think as well.

Based on my opinions/observations:

It looks like you are spot feeding correctly BUT i dont see any sort of feeding response that is typical to other LPS corals. Maybe the torch is full from other feedings (indicating maybe too much feeding), or maybe euphyllia feed using a different mechanism.

if you throw some food on an acan, duncan, candy cane, favia, etc you can see a clear feeding response where the feeding tentacles grab the food and take it in, or the food gets sucked in with the slime coat. You can literally watch them eat. When i watch youre video, the torch almost looks agitated and it works to remove all of the food from its body. It doesnt bring any into the center where its mouth is which makes me think its not eating.

I have the same issue. I have a small hammer that ive given both mysis and reef roids on different occasions. Same kind of response. It either shows no interest or works to get it off of itself. Now its one of the few corals i dont bother spotfeeding and havent noticed any difference.

I wonder if we’re potentially not using the right type of food or if there is some other factor, because i have seen hammer corals take food to their mouths before, and im sure torches do too.

I could be completely wrong about this all but thats how Ive been looking at it.
Anyways i would be very interested to hear what experiences other people have who spotfeed their torches and other euphyllia.

Thats a very good video you have there. It might be worth posting that in its own topic to discuss what the feeding response for torch coral should look like

regardless, keep up the good work because the torch looks great otherwise.

Yes ! This! That is exactly why I posted this here. When I spot feed for example my rock flower it will completely close in on the chunk of shrimp, like you said you can literally watch them eat. This however is completely different and I can never tell if it’s even eating ( you can see me come in a second time and try to get it to eat more !)

Interesting about your hammer with similar behavior… how long have you had it/ how big approx.? Curious. I’ve too wondered about trying to feed something else, maybe chopped silversides or something similar

Thank you for your compliment! The new iPhone camera really is something else lol. Let me know if this video would be more useful in a different forum

 

[Mikemilly245]

It looks about right and I too feed every other day

Can I ask what exactly you feed ?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Can I ask what exactly you feed ?

mysis shrimp

 

[Bucs20fan]

They definitely get hungry, I personally dont feed mine that often, but my largest torch, an orange tip highlighter did eat a sexy shrimp once fwiw.

 

[SandNRocks]

Yes ! This! That is exactly why I posted this here. When I spot feed for example my rock flower it will completely close in on the chunk of shrimp, like you said you can literally watch them eat. This however is completely different and I can never tell if it’s even eating ( you can see me come in a second time and try to get it to eat more !)

Interesting about your hammer with similar behavior… how long have you had it/ how big approx.? Curious. I’ve too wondered about trying to feed something else, maybe chopped silversides or something similar

Thank you for your compliment! The new iPhone camera really is something else lol. Let me know if this video would be more useful in a different forum

Hi, sorry i never replied. My hammer is small, maybe half a head if that. Ive only had it for a month or so. It was given to me after a fragging accident where the whole stalk was split in half and they said it wouldnt make it. So far it seems to be doing well though.
Anyways I noticed that my hammer had been thinning out the last few days( tentacles looking really thin) and my guess was low nutrients. I decided to try spot feeding reef roids again to see if there was any difference and it ate right away for the first time. It actually showed what i would consider a true feeding response and brought all of the reef roids into its mouth. It acted very different from how yours did in the video, and rather than squirming to rid itself of the food it sucked it all into the center. First time its eaten since ive had it, and 24 hrs later the tentacles look fully extended again. So i think i was right with low nutrients being a cause of its thin tentacles.
With this little bit of new knowledge, my guess would be that if your torch is fat and happy and refusing food( like mine was) it may just not be hungry. Maybe wait a week or two between feedings and see if you get a different response. I am definitely going to start using reef roids again though after yesterday.