Menella sp. (NPS gorgonian) question

[Mcgeezer]

I saw this particular gorgonian at my LFS. It was beautiful with dark purple flesh and neon yellow polyps. Polyps were completely extended under full lighting and it looked healthy, so i decided to buy it. I asked the owner if it was photosynthetic, and he wasnt for sure but stated "i think so"

Of course now I have had it positively ID'd on here as a Murella sp. (NPS) and have a question.

When i first brought it home, it was fully extended even in the bag and re-extended within 5 min of being added to the tank. Now....its completely shut all day long, of course until lights out. Now i just have this ugly purple stick in my DT during viewing hours ...instead I get this bright yellow vivid creature to only come out at night. I've had it for 3 days now

I tried enticing it with reef chili, which didnt do much. Can anyone tell me whats going on with this gorgonian please? As of now, it's completely opened up, but only because it's night time.:angryfire:

 

[snorvich]

I think you will get much better responses in the NPS forum.

 

[Misled]

Thread moved to the current forum.

 

[gogo7]

feed it at night when it's open, then it's used to what you're feeding it. then see if you can train it to open when that food's in the water, during the day.
also, check your temps on that one. it might like cooler temps.
got any pics... i love gorgs.

 

[noy]

use a variety of food of different sizes - oyster feast, reef roids. the polyps of menella are fairly large you should see a definite feeding response when its open. Make sure there is moderate flow going into the plane of the gorg (laminar flow). if you keep feeding it will stay open longer.

 

[coltrref]

use a variety of food of different sizes - oyster feast, reef roids. The polyps of menella are fairly large you should see a definite feeding response when its open. Make sure there is moderate flow going into the plane of the gorg (laminar flow). If you keep feeding it will stay open longer.

+1