Need Help with Acan Polyps!

[brannock_16]

Hello Everyone,

I am having a bit of an issue with two of my acan lord frags. One of the frags had another acan lord colony fall on it and the larger colony began to feed on the smaller frag. After separating the two, one of the polyps of the frag was nearly completely detached from the skeleton and now is "flapping in the breeze" in my tank.

The other frag I am having issues with was about 1.5 feet away from the direct path of a vortech MP40 W ES. I have noticed now that two of its polyps have also nearly become detached from the skeleton and also are "flapping in the breeze" in my tank. I removed this frag from its location and replaced it in a much lower flow area.

My questions are what should be done for these acans? They both readily accept and eat food when spot feeding and are showing no loss of color. Should I just leave them in the lower flow area and hope for a good recovery? What should be done with the detached polyps?

All my params are reef compatible:

SG 1.026
Temp 78-81
Ca 420
Alk 8-11 dkh
Mag 1400
Nitrite 0-5 ppm (using dip stick)
Nitrate 10-20 ppm (using dip stick)
Ammonia 0 ppm

 

[philosophile]

I'm not sure if you can do anything to help polyps that have been detached from their skeletons. The ones that are flapping, *might* have a chance though. Keep them in low flow, and if you they take food, feed them a bit every other day.

The acan that fell on the other... are they both the same species (both lords?) because if they are, they shouldn't be able to sting each other.

 

[All Delight]

Put them in a low flow area. The ones "flapping" are probably goners. If it were me, I would cut those off and keep the ones that are still healthy.

 

[brannock_16]

I'm not sure if you can do anything to help polyps that have been detached from their skeletons. The ones that are flapping, *might* have a chance though. Keep them in low flow, and if you they take food, feed them a bit every other day.

The acan that fell on the other... are they both the same species (both lords?) because if they are, they shouldn't be able to sting each other.

All the Acans in my tank are lords. I thought that lords did not attack other lords but it was very obviously trying to consume the other frag. I should have taken some pictures but was preoccupied with trying to remove them.

I hope that the one that has the more prominent detached polyps will pull through. I am hoping that it was the force of the vortech blowing directly on it. This one came from Puerto Rico and is a very nice specimen.

Thanks for your help and I will keep you up to date.

 

[brannock_16]

Put them in a low flow area. The ones "flapping" are probably goners. If it were me, I would cut those off and keep the ones that are still healthy.

Ok. I will ask my buddy with an inland reef saw to try to stop by soon so we can do some surgery. The polyps that are flapping still inflate and show excellent color...they just aren't attached to the skeleton.

This worries me quite a bit because over 65% of my tank is dominated by acan lords. All the others are inflating and showing excellent growth...and I really don't want to have a parasite or something wipe out my tank.

Thanks for the input and I will keep you up to date.

Oh and on a side note I think I have been talking to you about getting a frag pack of your rainbow acans soon! :wave:

 

[ati70cutlass]

you might put a little super glue under the flapper and try to keep it in a low flow area

 

[RokleM]

Lords typically will not attack other lords. More than likely one of your items is misidentified.

Gluing flesh is definitely an absolute last effort as it can cause major damage and can possibly be the final stressor that ends a coral.