Considering more NPS, need more info

[DanEnglish]

I currently have a small sun coral which has more or less stayed the same for about 6 months. Got it for free from a store where it had died down from about 20 heads to 4 (no feeding obviously). It catches mysis and flake food, and i try to give it little pieces of shrimp. It hasn't grown more head but also hasn't lost any. My other NPS is a flame scallop which I have had for about 10 months. I feed the whole tank phytofeast live every other day or so (I have a gigas clam about 18" as well, and I think it needs feeding).

My question is #1, how can I get my sun coral to grow more?

#2, how hard, relative to these two, are other NPS corals such as carnation trees, tunicates, and crinoids?

thanks
Dan

 

[Aquabacs]

I currently have a small sun coral which has more or less stayed the same for about 6 months. Got it for free from a store where it had died down from about 20 heads to 4 (no feeding obviously). It catches mysis and flake food, and i try to give it little pieces of shrimp. It hasn't grown more head but also hasn't lost any. My other NPS is a flame scallop which I have had for about 10 months. I feed the whole tank phytofeast live every other day or so (I have a gigas clam about 18" as well, and I think it needs feeding).

My question is #1, how can I get my sun coral to grow more?

#2, how hard, relative to these two, are other NPS corals such as carnation trees, tunicates, and crinoids?

thanks
Dan

For number 1, tubastrea in the home aquaria grow relatively slow. If husbandry is kept in line and feed often they will grow and add additional heads. They are not growing rapidly like "green slimer acropora" rate.

For number 2, it is more like comparing a hill to Mt. Everest. Now certain species of crinoids (Comanthus sp. for example) are on the hardier end of the spectrum if you have a feeding regime in place but "carnation corals", dendronephthya and most tunicates should not be purchased if you do not have a good grasp on their care.

Mike

 

[DanEnglish]

Thanks. Which of the crinoids are those? Currently on divers den they have:

http://www.liveaquaria.com/diversden/ItemDisplay.cfm?c=2733+10&ddid=138084

and

http://www.liveaquaria.com/diversden/ItemDisplay.cfm?c=2733+10&ddid=139398


I previously had the second (the red one), for about 4 months before it shed its arms and died. I am ashamed to say that all I was feeding was marine snow (instructed by the LFS - my fault though I know), so I am not surprised in retrospect that it did not live. I also had a chili coral at the same time and which met the same fate.

That said, I don't want this to happen again.

What are the best ways of keeping these creatures (especially the crinoids) alive? Is the live phyoplankton I feed the bivalves enough? I also feed the tank a lot of frozen mysis, bloodworms, etc.

thanks

Dan

 

[DanEnglish]

Anybody have any experience with the above mentioned crinoids?

 

[herring_fish]

I really can't advance the discussion on how to keep them alive. I just wanted to add a warning. I guess these things are very sensitive to salinity changes.
Many years ago, I bought one in LA, watched the packing and took it to the airport myself. I air shipped it to a friend's fish store in Lexington KY where it was acclimated as well as possible by a pro. It lost about half of its arms the night after arrival. Then, when I took it home a week later, it lost more and promptly died.
I know that many others have shipped them quite well, but I would try to ask for advice from your supplier and be extra careful.

 

[Aquabacs]

Thanks. Which of the crinoids are those? Currently on divers den they have:

http://www.liveaquaria.com/diversden/ItemDisplay.cfm?c=2733+10&ddid=138084

and

http://www.liveaquaria.com/diversden/ItemDisplay.cfm?c=2733+10&ddid=139398


I previously had the second (the red one), for about 4 months before it shed its arms and died. I am ashamed to say that all I was feeding was marine snow (instructed by the LFS - my fault though I know), so I am not surprised in retrospect that it did not live. I also had a chili coral at the same time and which met the same fate.

That said, I don't want this to happen again.

What are the best ways of keeping these creatures (especially the crinoids) alive? Is the live phyoplankton I feed the bivalves enough? I also feed the tank a lot of frozen mysis, bloodworms, etc.

thanks

Dan

Currently DD does not have the crinoids I spoke of in right now. When they list them they have them under the name crevice crinoid. The other ones they have in stock right now, green & white Stephanometra sp. are pretty hardy on the crinoid scale, just not too nitrate tolerant. As for care...easiest way for me to help you get started on crinoid care (without me getting in trouble for violating the user agreement would to google my name & the word crinoids after it (Michael Lukaczyn crinoids).


Mike

 

[DanEnglish]

Thanks!
I actually have read your article already, very helpful. I think I can deal with the feeding, now onto tank mate questions - stinging corals? I have a large (>12") bubble coral and a green Haddoni carpet anemone, both of which are nasty stingers... will the crinoid be able to avoid or handle that?