Sun Coral Help

[dbl]

I’ve had this sun coral in the display for a week now and it has yet to open. I’ve hand fed it nightly a combo of cyclop and diced mysis. I’ve even started taking it out and “soaking†it in this combination in isolation.

Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated. This may very well be normal. Just wondering how long before it may open and take some food.

Thanks

 

[dbl]

Should have mentioned that I’ve read they only open at night. Over the last week, when I’ve awoken at night and looked, I have still never seen them open, regardless of time. Again, it may simply take time for them to acclimate but I’m just trying to make sure I understand.

 

[Davesgt]

Not had the pleasure to own one of these yet but I hear they are kinda finicky during their acclimation to a new tank, with that being said id just give it some time and keep up with your routine.

 

[mcarroll]

First rule of coral ownership? Stop messing with the coral!

In real life they don't move, so that stresses them out.

Let him get unstressed by putting him in his "final resting place" and leaving him be. Give him a solid routine of feeding (don't go crazy with it anymore) and BE THERE A LOT so you find out what time he opens up. It may or may not be at night.

I never had much luck with these guys unless I hand-fed the individual polyps, btw. Tweezers and whole mysis. I consider these to be "expert" corals due to the feeding requirements.

-Matt

 

[CastAway]

That is a beautiful specimen. One of my favorites. I hope to keep them one day myself.

 

[PRomero]

Try liquid coral food with fine particles like Oyster feast, feed at night with the return pump off and powerheads on for about 30min. Wait for the coral to fully open before trying to spot feed mysis to each polyp. Good luck.

 

[dbl]

Thanks to all for the help. I will put it in it's final resting place and continue trying to get it to acclimate with your suggestions. This new hobby continues to teach me to be patient, not historically one of my strong suits!

 

[PRomero]

With the sun coral, patience and persistance is key, it may not fully open for weeks but the more consistant you are the more you will be rewarded.

 

[fishroomlady]

I agree in that is a beautiful specimen! I also agree to just give it some time and it should open up eventaully and then be prepared to give it a good feeding once it expands. Don't jump in there right away when you see some slow opening - might spook it close again

I'm assuming all of your parameters are good??

 

[dbl]

PRomero and fishroomlady, thanks for the comments and support. Now knowing it can take weeks is a relief – I just wanted to make sure I’m on the right track. I will continue to dowse it daily with liquid food and will wait for it to fully open before trying to feed each polyp.
One last question please…in your opinion, does it matter if it’s in the light or not? The LFS told me it didn’t matter and it was in the light in the picture above. After reading somewhere they didn’t like light, I moved it in a small cave. Per Matt’s advice above, I would like to put it back where I want it – its final resting place.
My parameters are all good and surprisingly very stable given I’m new to all this.

 

[fishroomlady]

I would put it where you would like it to be. I don't think if it's in the light that would be a bad thing. I probably wouldn't put it in the top but more in the middle or lower part of the tank.

 

[dbl]

Perfect. I had It towards the bottom which is where I shall put it. Again, thanks for the help...David

 

[PRomero]

They don't like light so if you want the polyps to be open during the day then yes you should put the coral in a no or low light zone in your tank. Training the sun coral to open in the day is a very tedious task. Once the coral is feeding for a few weeks you can try the same procedure during the day. I had mine start opening as soon as it sensed no flow and my hands were in the tank, my guess is that it associated those two things as it's feeding time and it would open beautifully.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

This could help as well. https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/ge...train-your-tubastrea-sun-coral-stay-open.html

 

[mcarroll]

They don't "see" so they don't care about the light.

What they do care about is algae growing on any bare spots of skeleton that are showing. That will irritate them, possibly causing them to stop opening, tissue recession, etc.

Unless you've got one growing fast, or are confident in your ability with this one, it would be much more protected in the shade. This will probably make it harder to feed though, so you have to be the final arbiter of where is best.

-Matt