Tubastraea/sun coral advice

[Joanna1905]

hi guys

Ok, had my sun coral around a week, just wondering how I get it to open?

 

[Tahoe61]

Try target feeding it at night to train the coral to eat when you introduce food to the tank. Then begin to target feed the coral during the day and it will begin to stay open longer. Always troubleshoot water chemistry though when a coral is reluctant to open.

To target feed, just introduce a small amount of food to the tank, you're trying to initiate a feeding response. Wait 20 minutes, turn off the flow to the tank, take a plastic liter bottle of soda cut in half and place that over the coral. Add a meaty frozen food (thawed for feeding) such as Mysis Shrimp or any other meaty sea food. Let the coral feed for about 10 min, remove liter bottle and turn the power heads back on. You may not be successful the first couple tries but keep at it and the coral should respond if it's a healthy specimen.

 

[p0st]

Make sure you keep it in a shady place, and target feed. If it still has to get used to target feeding you can place a cup over the sun coral when you're feeding until you actually see the polyps consuming the food. Sun corals have to be hand-fed daily or every other day to keep them healthy, but oh they're worth it when you can keep them healthy!

Edit: Darn, 1 minute too late ah well at least it's the same explanation as you Tahoe hehe

 

[The Kahnasaur]

Both of the above posts are spot on. Chances are you won't get them to open up with your lights on until you give them a good feed with the lights off.

I've had no luck getting mine to open up even when my lights are off but the sun is still visible outside, with any consistency. So I just feed mine at night. Good luck.

 

[hybridazn]

What Tahoe said...Lol

 

[Wh00pS32]

Make sure you keep it in a shady place, and target feed.

With light mine doesn't mind where it is (3inch below water line atm) as long as it gets fed every 2 days it's happy.

 

[johnanddawn]

I know this wasn't your question, but sun coral are extremely difficult and most people have very little long term success.
I always tell people to get dendros instead of Suns.
Dendros are very hardy in comparison, stay open all day, are larger polypes, and generally eat whatever you feed your fish that they can catch. You can spot feed them as well but they are quite good at fending for themselves.

 

[Joanna1905]

Thank you, I have frozen meaty food and I love the bottle idea to target feed. It is in the shade also. I will try it today and try and keep the same time to feed and let you know how it goes.
Thanks very much for the advice. I will do some research on dendros too. oh also tested all my water parameters and all is well.

 

[hybridazn]

There is a guy local to me that has a very nice sun coral but the amount he has fed it has wreaked havoc on his water quality. But he loves it a good bit so he kept on with it. It is an interesting coral. Best of luck with it

 

[Joanna1905]

Well I was wondering if I've bitten off more than I can chew to be honest. But I fell in love with it and decided as my tank is thriving and my other corals are doing well I thought I would give it a try. It looks ok just hasnt opened yet.And thanks very much

 

[Joanna1905]

Well guys I'm so happy! It's opened, ok it's not 100% in its glory but it's began. I turned the flow off and put the bottle over it and fed and left it for a while. Definitely the way to do it. Thank you so much!