Alcyonium palmatum Question

[Itchy Trigger]

So I just moved the "chili coral" which I got from Blue Zoo a few months back into my DT. I had it in QT for almost three months, and I was unable to feed it or even see its polyps extended. It went into the QT in a darker corner of the tank and I attempted to feed it several times, but never saw any polyps so eventually gave up. I figured it might die, but lo and behold, it's still alive. At least I think it is. I attached it to a rock in my DT today, kind of hanging upside down in a relatively shaded spot with good flow. And its still just sort of hanging there, no polyps showing or anything... What should I do to inspire it? I guess it's a good sign that it didn't wither and die, but I sure would like to get it to thrive. Any tips would be appreciated!

 

[Itchy Trigger]

Here's a pic of it that I just took.

 

[Nemato]

Hi,

They can be closed for months if they don't like conditions and survive.
Keeping mine now for years and seen usually open under light.

They like a good flow, in my exp strong flow and small food particles. To make it start opening cyclopeeze works miracles. I started "spot feeding" (as being closed it doesn't take nothing) every day till it opened and continued doing so before getting a good extension. Then used varyed food but not spot feeding.

If you want to use less food to mantain levels you can continue with spot feeding the tentacles turning off the pumps.

 

[Itchy Trigger]

Thanks Nemato. I'll start spot feeding it with cyclopeeze today. Hopefully he'll start opening up.

 

[Itchy Trigger]

Update... After several days in a row of squirting it with cyclopeeze, it has started to show some polyp extension! [emoji106]