Why is this acan unhappy?

[Schulks]

I only started keeping coral about 3 months ago and this was one of my first. It has grown well for me. It had 3 heads and is sprouting 6 more around it. I am not certain it is an acan I got it from a LFS. It is normally opened up and loving life but I just arrived home from work and it is unhappy. My other coral looks fine in the tank.

Recent parameters in picture. I have been adding corals, switching from red sea B to BRS Soda ash and generally adjusting doses. I also added an AWC about 3 weeks ago. I am only doing 5% weekly now.

I'll be running more tests in a minute but I think they will be roughly ok since all the other coral are ok.

 

[crazyfishmom]

Definitely a blasto… have you considered that it may just be pooping?

 

[Schulks]

Definitely a blasto… have you considered that it may just be pooping?

Lol no. Thank you, I'll relax and wait a bit haha

 

[Schulks]

Definitely a blasto…

It is a blasto?

here it is more opened up in other things I have,

 

[VintageReefer]

Looks like an acan to me

 

[crazyfishmom]

It is a blasto?

here it is more opened up in other things I have,

It’s an acan… sorry… was thinking blastos for something else and typed that in.

 

[VintageReefer]

@Schulks do feed it?

 

[Schulks]

@Schulks do feed it?

I do not. You are a big LPS keeper right? What should I start feeding?

 

[VintageReefer]

I do not. You are a big LPS keeper right? What should I start feeding?

Acans (in my experience) do best when fed. They are plumper and grow faster and larger

They will eat small meaty food like mysis, and they will also eat powder based food like benereef.

They extend feeding tentacles when they are ready to eat. They can do this day or night, so you might not see it.

I target feed my corals because broadcast feeding doesn’t guarantee everything catches food and also has a lot of waste food landing on sand and rock

Using a baster, regardless if they are extending feeders or not, turn off water flow and gently drop some food (mysis or benereef) right on the center of the polyp. In a few min they should start to open and grab it and eat it. They eat fast. 5 min after pulling in food, it’s possible they will be ready for more.

I target feed every other day. And my acans get two rounds. I give a little, they pull it in and then open for more, and I give a little more. Typically whatever I’m feeding my fish, they also will eat.

Plump happy acans

Hungry acan in feeding mode

 

[crazyfishmom]

Acans (in my experience) do best when fed. They are plumper and grow faster and larger

They will eat small meaty food like mysis, and they will also eat powder based food like benereef.

They extend feeding tentacles when they are ready to eat. They can do this day or night, so you might not see it.

I target feed my corals because broadcast feeding doesn’t guarantee everything catches food and also has a lot of waste food landing on sand and rock

Using a baster, regardless if they are extending feeders or not, turn off water flow and gently drop some food (mysis or benereef) right on the center of the polyp. In a few min they should start to open and grab it and eat it. They eat fast. 5 min after pulling in food, it’s possible they will be ready for more.

I target feed every other day. And my acans get two rounds. I give a little, they pull it in and then open for more, and I give a little more. Typically whatever I’m feeding my fish, they also will eat.

Plump happy acans

Hungry acan in feeding mode

Have you ever tried Polyp Labs Polyp Boost?

 

[VintageReefer]

Have you ever tried Polyp Labs Polyp Boost?

nope I can look into it though and try it

 

[crazyfishmom]

nope I can look into it though and try it

It’s pretty cool… you add a little bit to your tank and 15 minutes later feeder tentacles are all out and all LPS are ready to eat.

 

[Schulks]

They extend feeding tentacles when they are ready to eat. They can do this day or night, so you might not see it.

Day or night? Does this look like a hungry acan already?

 

[crazyfishmom]

Day or night? Does this look like a hungry acan already?

Yes it does! This little guy is ready for food.

 

[VintageReefer]

Day or night? Does this look like a hungry acan already?

Yes that means it’s hungry

 

[Schulks]

All 9 heads had a piece of mysis shrimp. As well as all my other acans.
This wild coral that arrived on my gulf live rock liked it too.

 

[Schulks]

I had to fight off a peppermint shrimp from stealing the food so I am trying to remove him to the sump.

He ate all the aptasia awhile ago. His job is done.

 

[VintageReefer]

I had to fight off a peppermint shrimp from stealing the food so I am trying to remove him to the sump.

He ate all the aptasia awhile ago. His job is done.

Any shrimp will be relentless to lps corals to steal food. It’s a behavior that can’t be controlled. I’ve even heard of them reaching in coral mouths to pull food out of the corals stomach…

Best to sump him

 

[Schulks]

Acans are looking good today. Some seem ready to eat again.
@VintageReefer Is feeding every day too much?

 

[VintageReefer]

Acans are looking good today. Some seem ready to eat again.
@VintageReefer Is feeding every day too much?

You’d be surprised how much they can eat.

Typically I feed really well every other day, unless the acan looks like it’s declining. Then I’ll feed daily

By really well I mean feed, wait 10 min and if it opens again, I’ll feed a second time