Colt Coral - Sick? Looking a bit limp and unhealthy

[seashells]

Colt coral really hates change. Changing flow, quick change in chemistry or water temperature, bumping it or clown gobies resting on it will make it retract. Sometimes for several days.

doug

[andsoitgoes]

Thanks for the updates everyone.

The livestock, outside of the clown and some inverts, was part of a package deal and had been running about 6 months prior to that.

I know having my hands in the tank is one of the worst things I could do, and have been trying to keep out as much as possible. This was an issue when I started my nano a few months ago, and since I stopped messing, everything is doing incredibly well.

The Sailfin is a good size now, but I know he'll have to go within the next 4 - 6 months, unless I upgrade of course

The Mandarin is proven to take mysis shrimp, and does so readily. That was a requisite to my keeping him, otherwise I would have had to set up something to get copepods growing in a separate tank. So far it's not been necessary.

I've got a full test kit that I'm using to test the params, and so far everything is doing very well.

I'm keeping things stable for the time being, unles it's absolutely necessary for me to dive into the tank to adjust a powerhead, I'm keeping my hands out. I'm also doing my best to keep on top of the feeding so that it's not too much, usually 1 - 2x a day with mysis or Formula 2, and just enough to make sure it's gone in a few minutes.

Thanks tons again everyone - if anything I've said causes further light to be shed, let me know!

[Scavenger]

Hey Nick,

I knew this problem rung a bell. I had similar with my first colt coral. I had fragged mine, not de attached it from a rock, but the premise might be the same.

Here is a quote from a response I got from BCOrchidGuy.....

"Scavenger, I've never fragged a coral myself but I just read in Marine Fish and Reef magazine about the problem you're having. I hope this helps.
"Soft corals, especially the colt coral (Kylxum sp.) and some genera in the family Nephtheidae that are "soft" and lack sclerite support, tend to collapse. The effect is like that of a fallen tree or wilted deciduous herb. ALthough in some cases the colony may become turgid and erect again, in most cases , the "deflation" of tissue is irreversible, and the colony rapidly deteriorates. Aquarist propagation can also cause this condition. Soft corals have large "Canals" with in the colony (called solenia) that are responsible for water flwo throughout the colony. Cutting opens these "biologically gated" canals, imparing the ability of the colony to hold water"
"Cut or broken colonies should be placed so that the damaged area is exposed to high water flow until healed. Damaged tissue should never be "planted" so that it contacts substrate or has reduced water flow. Alternately, super glue can be used to apply an "adhesive bandage" that seals the cut edges of the tissue."

Hope that's some help to you, I didn't think cutting a colt would be that bad."


In the end I tried to put a layer of epoxy over the "wound" and it seemed to help, but I lost the coral in the end. I hope this at least gives you ideas.

[andsoitgoes]

Wow - thanks for the info, Scavenger! Sheesh, I thought these were hardy and nearly unkillable. I'll have to keep an eye on it and add some epoxy, thanks for the info!

[andsoitgoes]

well - my lil baby is doing much better now, huge improvement to its coloration and it's beginning to perk up quite a bit.

The marks where it was attached to the rock are still looking pretty sore, but I may get a chance to stop by J&L's this weekend to get some epoxy to cover it. It's just too big and too beautiful to have not make it, I refuse to allow it!!

[Ruth]

Well that is good news - hopefully things continue to recover. If it looks like it is doing OK and recovering I would not bother with the epoxy. That would just mean hauling it out of the tank to apply and thereby causing more stress. Remember - keep you hands out of the tank

[andsoitgoes]

LOL - thanks Ruth. I haven't put my hands in there other than to attach a Clown Veggie clip next to the anemones and to adjust the powerhead, I'm being a good boy!

Here's a recent pic:



Very happy with its current condition!!