how to tell if a fungi plate coral is healthy?

[sushibug]

I bought a plate coral from an LFS and it lost all of its tissue a few days later. I took the skeleton out of the tank, and afterwards learned that it might be able to spawn babies but that is probably too late right now.

Anyway, how do I know if a plate coral is healthy? I assume lots of tissue, extended tentacles/polyps, not bleached, etc. When I disturb it, is it normal for me to see its skeleton? And am I supposed to normally be able to see its skeleton on the bottom side? TIA.

 

[victor escobar]

To your question the answer is NO. The bottom side should have tissue and by no means a bare scheleton. If it is not the case then the plate is ill and can die bu tissue recession.

 

[jfingers8]

I had a plate that took about a year for 75% of the tissue to recede. Out of nowhere it started to recover. didn't do anything different to my tank just turned around, but ya never take a plate out because more often that not they will spawn babies.

 

[AquaReeferMan]

The following pictures are what healthy plate corals look like.

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[Da Kind Reef]

The following pictures are what healthy plate corals look like.

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yes very healthy plate coral. you should not see skeleton. Always look for the tissue receding with fresh white skeleton showing that is bad!

 

[redzone]

hmm wierd. mine gets puffy but no tentacles. is that normal also