Some assistance required

PhelpsTanks · Oct 1, 2011

So I aquired an Orange Tube Coral (Tubastrea aurea) from a buddy of mine. I am just curious if the outer skeleton is suppose to fell/look like flesh? The one I have has like a hard skeleton, but all the pictures and videos I have seen they look like they would be soft. I will upload a picture in a couple mins. What steps can I take to ensure the health of the animal? The "flowers" come out when its dinner time and yesterday I watched it eat (fed for 10 min). So I know it's eating, will it just take time for the skin to come back? Also for you to know, this is the state I received the coral in. Trying to do my best to nurse it back to good health.

Thanks

PhelpsTanks · Oct 1, 2011

Ok pics aren't the greatest (phone).. So the first pic is when my buddy had it.. He said he rarely fed it and asked if I wanted it. YES PLEASE! I don't mind having a feeding schedule and target feeding is kinda neat to do. Anyway, the second pic is the first day I had it.. I had it sitting on my frag rack for about a week before I placed it (third pic). I found an area where it gets shade and the flow recommended. Seems to be happy here except I ran out of glue so it's just sitting there for now (diamond goby decided he was gonna troll me and swam over the coral causing a rush of water that made it tip over. I am getting glue first thing tomorrow to prevent this from happening again). Last but certainly not least, the fourth pic is the most current one I have, when I feed 4-6 polyps open up and come out from hiding. There is a tube like thing on one of the polyps (will try to get a pic tomorrow). Not sure if that is causing any issues or not, but it does seem to be in it's way. The thing I am worried about, like I said in the first post is the flesh/skeleton. Not sure if you can tell in the pics, but it looks hard not soft like the numerous pics and videos I have seen. Thanks for any assistance and comments.

~PhelpsTanks