Bleached Torch

[NewbyReefer]

What are the chances this will come back? I had a mini tank crash and a friend took this guy in for about two weeks. When I got it back it was completely bleached but is still alive. Just the tenticles are white the mouth is still green.

Before

During Crash

Now

 

[seafd]

I don't know if I'd call that completely bleached... I've had 3 torch heads that have looked like that for 9 or 10 months. All three of them have started to split. They seem happy and healthy. I would guess that your friend has much better lighting and given the stress of a crash and move, they just discharged some extra zooxanthellae. I'd keep it in good light and flow. If you want, feed it some small meaty food and it should make a full recovery.

 

[kichimark]

I agree with Seafd, it doesn't look that bad and giving it some food will bring it back in no time. Do you know what was the cause of your mini-crash?

 

[NewbyReefer]

I don't know if I'd call that completely bleached... I've had 3 torch heads that have looked like that for 9 or 10 months. All three of them have started to split. They seem happy and healthy. I would guess that your friend has much better lighting and given the stress of a crash and move, they just discharged some extra zooxanthellae. I'd keep it in good light and flow. If you want, feed it some small meaty food and it should make a full recovery.

So just direct feeding should be good enough? As far as the lights I have a 6bulbt5ho and my friend has LED's. I just dont want it to die because its the only euphyllia that made it through the crash.

I agree with Seafd, it doesn't look that bad and giving it some food will bring it back in no time. Do you know what was the cause of your mini-crash?

Something in the new sand. Ran heavy carbon for 2 weeks and that cleared up whatever it was.

 

[SMT6h]

just let him be, he looks OK. I would think the color difference you see now is more an adaptation the coral did for the lighting in your friends tank as opposed to true bleaching. Much of that color that you see in the coral comes from pigment in its own tissues. True bleaching is when the coral washes out its own zooxanthelae algae. The fact he is still filling, open, and has tint to him, leads me to believe he will color adapt back over in short order to whatever color he need for your individual tank/light/placement/etc.

Over feeding torches/euphyilia does NOT benifit them in my experience. As long as you are feeding the tank for the fish and let some fall on the coral, they tend to do well.

-S