Elegance Importation

[ChimolaFish]

Hey, I was asking a very knowledgeable guy about elegance corals and he said that finding healthy elegance corals isn't that big of an issue anymore. I know there used to be disease that killed off almost all of them that came through and was wondering if, say, I saw a healthy elegance at the store, it would be safe to buy. All the posts I've seen about elegance corals all being infected seem to date back to a few years, so not sure if its still a coral that should be avoided. Any help? Thanks!

 

[hypostatic]

ANY coral that you buy that hasn't been aquacultured/propagated is a wildcard. You won't know really where it comes from, how it was imported, or any diseases/pathogens it might be carrying.

I still read about recent stories where people's elegances are fine and then suddenly die for no reason. "People" say that only aussie elegances are good and that the indio elegances have issues. That being said, I've seen stories of people losing their aussie elegances, and I personally have an indio one that is thriving and has tripled or quadrupled in the 2-3 years that I have it.

The first step, as you mentioned, is making sure you have a healthy specimen to start out with. A healthy specimen should have long flowing tentacles, and a good color (not bleached out or white). It should also readily accept feedings of mysis/brine shrimp.

 

[Canneddynomite]

I purchased 2 about 2 months ago and both are doing very well in my tank. One is Aussie and one is Indo. The aussie looked slightly bleached when I got it but now its perfect. Again 2 months isn't very long but its a good start.

 

[ChimolaFish]

Yea, I know buying a coral is always a wild card.I meant more on the order of is there any chance at all they would survive? Since 5-10 years ago no one could keep one a live over a couple years. I guess that disease has passed or been contained? The problem I heard is that the disease could lie dormant for 6 months or more and then all of a sudden show up. I don't remember all the details anymore, but there was zero success rate with elegance corals for a time. I suppose now it would be safe to take the plunge on healthy specimen then?

 

[hypostatic]

Yeah, I'd say it's worth it to take the plunge (I have). I think the major issue currently is that they can get these bacterial infections potentially, and if this happens you'll basically have to remove it from the main tank, and treat with an antibiotic in order for the coral to recover. I believe this is a similar thing to what happens to some carpet anemones

 

[ChimolaFish]

Alrighty, sounds like the infection isn't that big of a concern anymore then?

 

[hypostatic]

Yeah, I wouldn't say it's THAT big of a concern

 

[gooner2062]

go for it, I've had mine over two years now and never had any issues with him.

 

[ChimolaFish]

Well there was a real nice one I passed on a couple months ago because I was sure it was going to die, but if I saw another one one day I wanted to know whether or not I should buy it. Thanks, guys!