thompson2224
New member
I got an indo dendro last friday. It is just a small piece with 2 heads. What is the best way to get it to open up? I have tried feeding it in the tank and in tupperware to try to get it to eat and to open but no luck.
Indo Dendro
- Thread starter thompson2224
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thompson2224
New member
Its this one. I was not told that so if thats the case what should I do?
http://mrcoral.com/go/index.php/indo-dendros.html
http://mrcoral.com/go/index.php/indo-dendros.html
thompson2224
New member
The piece I have looks orange in person not pink
stunreefer
Reef Hugger
That's Cladopsammia gracilis, fairly difficult NPC compared to Dendrophyllia or Tubastrea spp.
Keep trying, eventually you'll entice it enough to feed. I've had some colonies in rough shape tanks several months to show even one tentacle.
Keep trying, eventually you'll entice it enough to feed. I've had some colonies in rough shape tanks several months to show even one tentacle.
thompson2224
New member
What kind of special treatment should I give it? I have the tank at 78 degrees right now. Whats best to feed it?
hypostatic
New member
The best results I've had have been with Hikari spirulina brine shrimp cubes.
What you should do:
Soak a cube in tank water so it melts.
Turn off pumps.
Blow some mysis juice over the polyps.
wait for polyp extension (if there is none you'll have to feed it outside the tank)
Place food on polyps with a transfer pipette (or turkey baster)
Turn pumps back on when food is eaten.
For best general polyp extension, place the coral somewhere that is high flow
What you should do:
Soak a cube in tank water so it melts.
Turn off pumps.
Blow some mysis juice over the polyps.
wait for polyp extension (if there is none you'll have to feed it outside the tank)
Place food on polyps with a transfer pipette (or turkey baster)
Turn pumps back on when food is eaten.
For best general polyp extension, place the coral somewhere that is high flow
thompson2224
New member
The piece I have is orange, the link shows it as pink though. I emailed the person I bought it from and he claims he keeps his tank at 77 and it opens and grows.
hypostatic
New member
have you seen the polyps open up at all at any time?
thompson2224
New member
I have not yet and today makes it one week since receiving it
hypostatic
New member
Damn. That's a really bad sign.
What I would try to do is try feeding it something really small like nutrimar ova in the tuperware. If it doesn't ingest any of it, I'd say it was screwed before you got it.
...and that's usually the case with these corals. The LFS won't feed it at all after it receives the coral, and it'll start to die. In an attempt to salvage some profit from it, they'll then frag it up to hide the dead parts and tissue recession. I would actually call the LFS and demand a refund for sending you a bum NPS coral.
This is such a shame too, because these corals are one of the hardiest corals I own. They'll take almost anything you throw at them and not even care. But everything needs energy to survive, and if its not getting energy....
What I would try to do is try feeding it something really small like nutrimar ova in the tuperware. If it doesn't ingest any of it, I'd say it was screwed before you got it.
...and that's usually the case with these corals. The LFS won't feed it at all after it receives the coral, and it'll start to die. In an attempt to salvage some profit from it, they'll then frag it up to hide the dead parts and tissue recession. I would actually call the LFS and demand a refund for sending you a bum NPS coral.
This is such a shame too, because these corals are one of the hardiest corals I own. They'll take almost anything you throw at them and not even care. But everything needs energy to survive, and if its not getting energy....
ManEatingGuppy
New member
Put it in tuperware and allow food to sit on its mouth. Even without tentacle extensions, it should still ingest the food.
thompson2224
New member
Okay I will try that. Yeah definitely not happy if thats the case.
I really wish places would stop harvesting it from the ocean. I am willing to bet 95% of Cladopsammia gracilis will not live in captivity unless you have a cold water NPS tank, a dedicated system.
stunreefer
Reef Hugger
99.9%
FWIW, I had C. gracilis living in ~73°F and sprouting new heads once settled in. They require enormous amounts of food compared to most "LP NPC" and take considerably longer to settle in than most... my 'fastest' conditioned colony that would readily open when lights were on took about four months to do so. Unfortunately once I started traveling a bit more they took a major hit by not being fed as much. I lost 2/3 colonies and gave one away to another reefer who could provide proper care.
I suspect these corals would do best in a system where someone is also keeping NP gorgonians and 'softies' (Dendronephthya spp., Scleronephthya spp., etc.) due to constant food requirements.
stunreefer
Reef Hugger
The top left colony is the one that was sprouting new polyps after about five months. Bottom right (nearly cropped out) took considerably longer to settle in (seven months) and readily feed. At this point I was spot feeding chopped P.E. Mysis and frozen Cyclop-eeze twice per day.
This picture was taken after I had been traveling more for work and could only feed twice per week at most (top left colony same as in above pic). Note the coenosarc showing recession on multiple colonies, where the coenosarc had been fully intact when initially received.
This picture was taken after I had been traveling more for work and could only feed twice per week at most (top left colony same as in above pic). Note the coenosarc showing recession on multiple colonies, where the coenosarc had been fully intact when initially received.
thompson2224
New member
Looks nice. Mine has finally opened up with the tank at 78 degrees. So I hope it does end up surviving
99.9%
FWIW, I had C. gracilis living in ~73°F and sprouting new heads once settled in. They require enormous amounts of food compared to most "LP NPC" and take considerably longer to settle in than most... my 'fastest' conditioned colony that would readily open when lights were on took about four months to do so. Unfortunately once I started traveling a bit more they took a major hit by not being fed as much. I lost 2/3 colonies and gave one away to another reefer who could provide proper care.
I suspect these corals would do best in a system where someone is also keeping NP gorgonians and 'softies' (Dendronephthya spp., Scleronephthya spp., etc.) due to constant food requirements.
Wow this is an awesome update! I am glad to hear you are able to keep it alive in 73 degree temps. I think you might be only the second person i have heard of that has had limited success with this coral.
Your tank is looking really good!
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