Is this a normal elegance(picture)

[Joshua1023]

I've had this elegance for about six months now. His zooxanthelae is strong for sure, but it will not eat. I put pieces of shrimp on his mouths and tentacles, but it never grabs the morsals. Rather it seems to shrink away from the food. I also feel that it's tentacles are very undersized for its species. I know I have adequate lighting and flow. Water quality is also at proper levels. I guess my question is will this coral do O.K. with only its symbiotic algae as food? Also is it normal for some Elegance corals to display such short tentacles? The pictures I've seen show these with awesome, crazy-long tentacles.

 

[paininthewrasse]

Hate to say it.. but it looks like he will be a goner shortly

 

[syrinx]

I have had elegance corals for years without feeding directly, so I don`t see that as a problem. I have seen many specimens that did have short tentacles also. Most of mine tended to vary considerably between long and short- and can`t tell you why. One could rationalise that one that is more a of a food searcher would utilise longer tentacles- and one more photosynthetic would have more meat and less tents. Or perhaps it relates to lighting- what is that you consider good lighting? While the elegance comes from often muddy turbid waters, thats not always the case. Might move it around in the tank a little.

 

[syrinx]

just saw your lighting info in your sig-

 

[Joshua1023]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8521182#post8521182 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by syrinx
just saw your lighting info in your sig-

To be more specific, my lights consist of two 150 watt hqi metal haide, and two 20" dual pc from Current. That is the mh is 20k and the pc's are 40 watts each with dual daylight and dual actinic bulbs in each fixture. This is all crammed in a canopy over a 90 gl tank with at least a 6" sand bed. I've never moved him from where I first put him and he has never extended his tentacles much more than what the pic shows. Should I try squirting some cyclopeeze in him or something or just let nature take its coarse?

 

[Racing1]

I would try feeding it phyto or cyclopeeze. also make sure it is not getting too much flow. They seem to like moderate to low flow and medium lighting. Good luck

 

[slojmn]

I don't think he looks so bad...I had my monster elegance under 1240w of MH/VHO lighting for years, about 24" from the lights) and he was fine...quite a bit of flow as well. I actually buried a portion of his base in the sand bed and he seemed to like that. It may need a little shading for a bit to see if he gets more color back. My elegance would go through phases of short tentacles with his body somewhat engorged more than usual...I'm really not sure what that was about but he always returned to his usual self after a couple of days. I never directly fed mine either, he grew from about 4"x4" to over a foot in diameter. I finally gave him to a lfs for their show tank, he was a monster. Has this guy grown for you in the six months you have had him?

 

[Chaotic Reefer4u]

nice...

 

[Brewen]

They are tricky to say the least. I have had 1 last 1.5-2 years then others only a month or two. They are one of my favorite lps but I had to stop getting them because they did not do well in my tank except the one.

 

[Joshua1023]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8523889#post8523889 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by slojmn
I don't think he looks so bad...I had my monster elegance under 1240w of MH/VHO lighting for years, about 24" from the lights) and he was fine...quite a bit of flow as well. I actually buried a portion of his base in the sand bed and he seemed to like that. It may need a little shading for a bit to see if he gets more color back. My elegance would go through phases of short tentacles with his body somewhat engorged more than usual...I'm really not sure what that was about but he always returned to his usual self after a couple of days. I never directly fed mine either, he grew from about 4"x4" to over a foot in diameter. I finally gave him to a lfs for their show tank, he was a monster. Has this guy grown for you in the six months you have had him?

I can't be sure if he has grown. I didn't have the foresight to take a few pics of him for comarison. But, I have not noticed, so if he has grown than it was not very much.

 

[syrinx]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8523051#post8523051 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Joshua1023
To be more specific, my lights consist of two 150 watt hqi metal haide, and two 20" dual pc from Current. That is the mh is 20k and the pc's are 40 watts each with dual daylight and dual actinic bulbs in each fixture. This is all crammed in a canopy over a 90 gl tank with at least a 6" sand bed. I've never moved him from where I first put him and he has never extended his tentacles much more than what the pic shows. Should I try squirting some cyclopeeze in him or something or just let nature take its coarse?

I would say that he is happy photo feeding and thus doesn`t need the extra tents. I would be that if he were moved (or slightly shaded) he would pop longer ones. If he has no recession at the skeleton or anything I would not be too concerned. I do wonder about iodine and other supps though- what do you use if any?

 

[Joshua1023]

I am not a big fan of adding much of anything in the way of chemicals to my tank. Instead I have opted to replace minor and major trace elements through weekly 15% water changes. I figure this way there is no way of "overdosing" anything in my tank. The only thing I add is calcium in a two part formulation to keep my level at about 450. My salt mix of choice is Seachem Reef Salt. My tank is pretty lightly stocked yet. I have not had the courage to plunk down 100 bucks on a smallish sps yet. So I figure chemical additives are not yet needed anyway.

 

[syrinx]

I agree with you 90% on the additives! I would try a little iodine sup along with trying the strontium molib combo for a dose or two to see if it does anything. Not go wild but borrow a dose from a bud. (not me I don`t keep the stuff)! Talked to my former partner last night about the coral and he pretty much agreed with the ideas and thoughts we have shared.

 

[bitis316]

Joshua1023

Good advice....Listen to this guy..I do the same thing...The only thing I do different is 1 time every 10-14 days..I feed with cyclopeeze or something at 2am when only the moon lights are on....Try this and see if it helpss......Directly feed very small amount....i do the same thing for my hammers, torches and Gonaporia or how ever you spell it.....Also I am not one for aditives....But you could try a light dose of manganese...It works well for me...

 

[Joshua1023]

Maganese, huh? Maybe I'll give that a try. I bought something today called "Reef Bugs" manufactured by the Weiss company. Supposably there is a ton of microbes in the stuff that hatch when they hit the water. I've added it to my replacement water and will put it in later today. Hopefully this will have a positive reaction for my elegance. Has anyone tried this stuff yet?

 

[bitis316]

NO....I would'nt add anything like that..But then again I have only read about it on the crapper.....I repeat Manganese..........am feedings 2-3am

 

[poopsko24]

he's a gonner, put out of misery and don't get another one is all the advise in the world when it comes to these guys.

 

[RichConley]

One of my friends has one that looks exactly like that... and has for the last 3+ years. Looks fine to me.

 

[poopsko24]

thats NOT how there suppose to look. Elegance have LOOONNGGG tenticles............they resemble LT anemones, some even confuse them for one.

 

[Joshua1023]

I would never kill any coral purposefully unless all hope is lost. I feel that it is my responsability to do all I can to make sure that this creature that was plucked from its ocean home does not die needlessly by my hand. So until I see some reel necrosis or brown jelly creeping up it, I feel there is still some hope, however small.

I put those Reef Bugs in last night after they soaked in some saltwater for a few hours. My elegance sucked up so much water I thought it might pop! Anyway, today it is back to normal, well as normal as it ever was. I'd like to put it in the shade, but there is limited room to do that in my setup. Has anyone tried this in order to try to coax them to elongate their tentacles? If I feel this even has a slight chance of helping matters I'll give it a try.