Help ASAP! Recently arrived Yellow Fiji with RTN (?) [Picture Included]

[cd77]

I'm cross-posting this (originally posted in the new-to-the-hobby forum) just in case there are any people who regularly browse this forum and not the other that may be able to help.

Help ASAP! Recently arrived Yellow Fiji with RTN (?) [Picture Included]

Please help! This was delivered yesterday from F&S -- It is a Yellow Fiji Leather Coral. It arrived in a shipment containing some cleanup critters (snails and crabs) which acclimated well, as well as some freshwater gold veil angels (with were DOA)

I called F&S after requesting a refund on the gold veils, and I asked teir advice on the yellow fiji which clearly had some darkening on its crown. They told me to place it high in the aquarium with a lot of circulation, which I had already done and to watch it closely. I woke up this morning to see that the darkened area is spreading, with no polyps extended yet. They told me if it appears to get worse or doesn't get better that I may need to frag it.

Is this RTN? Can anyone offer any advice on how to save this coral, please?

I know this is a very sensitive coral, and I know better than to even touch it -- so I'm working with aquarium gloves. If I need to frag it, can anyone offer any advice? I'm about to move it into my hospital tank with ~40x flow (Koralia 1 in a ten gallon) Should I do this? Or is it all too late? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[gflat65]

RTN is usually used on SPS, where they rapidly release tissue, but I guess it could be technically correct. Black spots are not good, but aren't necessarily the end. I agree with med to high flow to help it stay 'refreshed', but I would likely have started it lower (I usually start everything low and work it up). Of course, that depends on what kind of lights you have. I'd just give it time. and see what it does. If it starts developing a black slime, blow it off with a turkey baster. If it keeps growing the slime, start thinking about fragging it. I'd frag it like any other softie. Pull it with some tank water. Hack it up with a razor blade, cutting around any infection. Attach loosely with rubber bands to rocks (when they 'inflate' again, the rubber band can cut them in half). Return then to the tank and put somewhere where they will get some decent flow (but still stay on the rocks). They'll usually attach within a few days. Change carbon a few days after cutting to be safe. Fragging when something is distressed may not be as 'safe' as a healthy coral, but you might be surprised, if your water quality is good. HTH

 

[cd77]

Thank you Unfortunately -- you can read the thread at http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1205343 -- it deteriorated very fast, and I ended up fragging it -- the frags didn't last long at all. Water quality is very good (a little low on pH, 7.9) but aside from that everything is great. Dr. F&S customer support was excellent and refunded my money promptly. The next time I try (or need to) frag a soft coral, I will definitely use the rubber band technique. I read elsewhere that this coral could be fragged by placing in to sand -- I may have made a mistake with the frag. Never the less, after cutting around the infected area I was only able to get extremely small portions which at the time appeared healthy.