Elegance coral, chances of long term success?

[carriej]

Ok, so I did something I never do... Which is buy a coral without really knowing much about it.

Was looking for something nice to go with my LPS tank, which is mostly euphyllia an elegance was suggested to me.. As I am sure most of you know, they are not cheap. However it was big and squishy and flowy ad I couldn't resist.

This sucker is huge, too.

It's not an "aussie" elegance, and I am kind of disappointed looking online... Has anyone had long term success keeping non aussie elegances?

I guess I will just enjoy it while it lasts. For now, it looks great anyway.

 

[agruetz]

I would not stress to much. Just keep good stable water conditions, and watch it. I was all worried about mine when I got it because I did not know to ask the Australian vs this or whatever. I have no idea what mine is but I have had it for about a year now and it is happy.

I have dipped it once or twice in revive/coralRX when it was not looking ok or acted strange a few days in a row compared to the other behavior I had seen from it previously.

I do feed it meaty food from time to time. A chunk of silver side, half cube of mysis etc...

Do not stress to much enjoy it and watch it like you do the rest of the tank and hopefully it will all be good. Oh and where are the pictures of it?

 

[carriej]

I put a picture in the thread, can you not see it?

Here it is again, for good measure...

 

[agruetz]

It did not pull up the first time...oh well. Awesome looking here is mine...poor picture does not it justice.

 

[Wills612]

If it Aussie it has a better chance. does the skeleton show signs of fragging?

 

[FNDsalt]

Speaking from experience I would keep it in the sand where you have it as long as it stays plump and happy. I tried to putty mine up a little ways on the rockwork only to find out they have a very fragile skeleton. I pushed ever so slightly about and inch down from the top and still it broke through. Didn't last long after that. Still one of my favorite corals to this day, just can't trust myself to buy one again.

Truly hope yours stays happy and healthy!

 

[carriej]

It's not an Aussie; as I asked the supplier (after I bought it) and he said it wasn't.

The skeleton just looks like a rock. No saw marks or breakage that I can see. I'm trying not to worry too much; but this thing is 11 inches fully open and it's beautiful. I wouldn't have bought it of I had of done more research. However when I did a quick search on my phone right before buying I picked one of the articles that said "it was tough and hardy" and then got home; did more research... Yeah; not too pleased lol.

 

[carriej]

I'm not sure if I'm pleased, or skeptical that no one has commented saying it's doomed.. lol

 

[nvictor]

i have had one for a few months - my guess is it should do fine.

 

[agruetz]

I'm not sure if I'm pleased, or skeptical that no one has commented saying it's doomed.. lol

Doomed by default unlikely...my assumption from what I read when I did the same thing was they were just less hardy meaning you had to have better water quality, stability and act with dips etc... at the first sign of a problem and immediately. Which is how I handled mine, I also kept him in the sand. He has double in size since I got him about a year ago. Anyway good luck, time will tell.

 

[NeilFox]

That Elegance will be fine. It's a real beauty! Could be Vietnamese? I don't really think it matters much. My Viet Elegance is doing fine and they have a reputation for being hardy here. I love the blue tips. They like strontium.

 

[uf_gators]

I have had mine over a year now and from 2-3 happy to 8in + now. I do wonder sometimes. Not about the elegance it self. But in the past couple months. I have MIA ( lawnmower , harlequin shrimp and now jus a few days ago a 2-3 in. Foxface ..... I may be tripping here but I am blaming the elegance. Cause about 6 months ago I had a snowflake eel. And another 3 months later it was lying across the elegance when I got home . Dead as a dead can be. I know these has a sting, but I am a believer that their sting is worse than a anemone.like my BTA. But my clowns will not let anything near it. Lol
This is why I am wondering now if the elegance is the culprit of my missing crew....?

 

[uf_gators]

My elegance:

 

[carriej]

Still seems to be doing well... Tentacles are getting longer, so I'm assuming that's a good thing!

Elegance

Close up of tentacles

 

[agruetz]

Looks happy. Keep doing what you are doing I am sure it will be fine.

 

[Wills612]

Nice, keep up what your doing.

 

[CHSUB]

here is mine, i have had little success with elegance corals over several years...i hope i'm lucker this time. i do know some reefers that have had them long term. their advice: light current, on sandbed, leave it alone, you can feed it but not necessary.

gl