Coral Smell....

[aastretch64]

I got a few coral when I first started and I don't remember a smell, but the ones I just got recently...the last 10 or so frags have a faint sweet smell, almost like lobster or crab. Not really bad, but not really that appealing either. Most are fragged from sps at one of my lfs which have been there for many months. Others are aquacultured, while a few are wild caught.

Is this normal?

I noticed it more in the sps corals then the lps, but the reason I ask is because one coral got rtn, which passed on to another sps which I think has stn. Both really have a heavier smell. Now my 2" frogspawn frag which was healthy for months, just died, and it had that same smell (that I don't ever remember before).

Alex

 

[flipteg]

healthy corals will have smell... it smells like those vegetables packets they package with cheap ramen noodles... my tank is open top and i can smell coral scent through the water...

 

[demonsp]

STOP SMELLING YOUR CORAL.WIERDOS... LOL

 

[aastretch64]

****Grabs a marker and starts to sniff****

Ok no more coral smelling for me.

 

[tydtran]

Anything sitting in a tank of salt water will get that faint smell.

 

[seapug]

this is also species specific. Some corals have a very strong, distinct smell. Xenia is infamous for its stink.

 

[nrstype]

ANALOGY....

That faint aroma of a healthy tank/system is just a bit salty, fishy, kinda hangin' out on the shore type thing.....but not offensive, "Ocean~ie" kinda smell. (You say....* AHhhhhhhhhhhh... Faint sigh * Nice ....):fish1:

However.. if it "singes the nose hairs", makes you puke, curls your toes, makes your face all wrinkled in profound disgust .. then you better investigate.

(Then you say... Oh Crap.. what died! :hmm4: Too much detritus in the kool aid?:eek2: When did I do a water change last? etc.....):thumbdown:

 

[fambrough]

Yes, as noted, different corals have different smells. And we humans probably have varying sensitivity to the smells. The one that smells best to me is Anthelia. I am a chef and this one reminds me a bit of crab and scallop. If I were not affraid of toxicity (have not done any research), I would taste some. It would be interesting to find out what the texture is like, too, cooked, I mean. For the time being however, I think I'll enjoy these animals as part of my aquarium hobby, not as part of my culilnary interest.