I just pued a small 2 branch torch from my lfs. It's tenticles are clearsih white with frosty white tips. Is this the natural color of some torches or has it been bleached out by intense lighting? My frogspawn was clear with green tips when i bought it and now has turned tan with green tips over the 4 weeks ive had it. I purchased both from the same place. I'm sorry, no pics
new torch bleached out or is white its true color??
- Thread starter seaduck
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Steven Pro
New member
Bleached
OK, it should be obvious that I am new to the hobby and don't know a whole lot about corals. So the term "bleached" is when the coral has lost its color and has expelled its "zoox" or cells it uses to carry on photosynthesis???? So these bleached corals are on their way out and I should not be buying them. Maybe thats why I only paid $10.00 for the torch frag and $20.00 for the frogspawn. Both are very small. The frog is doing great and has its color back and I hope the torch does as well......Live and learn.....
if they are getting thier colour backyou are a great reefer, any chance you think they wont survive i would send them back.
Since he has expelled his zoox (yes photosynithic cells) or bleached, he will be very low on carbon. Zoox provide hte coral with carbon. BEcause of this you now have to spot food him 3-4 times a week.
Since he has expelled his zoox (yes photosynithic cells) or bleached, he will be very low on carbon. Zoox provide hte coral with carbon. BEcause of this you now have to spot food him 3-4 times a week.
Bcollins111900
New member
I have a 8 headed torch that has tan/pink stalks with true white tips but if the stalks or are transparent, the coral is bleached. A pic would help so we could let you now for sure.
Yes feed him. If oyster eggs arnt easy to get for you, simple brine crushed then sucked into a syringe, or direct feedign iss more than enouth.
3-4 times a week is good enough.
Now jsut until he gets his colour back, but always eed them, others dont feed them at all and say they dont need feeding but im sure they thier torch is eating the food ment for thier fish or sps etc.
3-4 times a week is good enough.
Now jsut until he gets his colour back, but always eed them, others dont feed them at all and say they dont need feeding but im sure they thier torch is eating the food ment for thier fish or sps etc.
Steven Pro
New member
The short answer is stress, which can come in the form of collecting or shipping trauma, uncharacteristic temperature increases, unusually calm water, and probably a few other things I am forgetting. When corals bleach, their symbiotic zooxanthellae leave the host coral. Zooxanthellae are golden brown dinoflagellates (think algae) that live within the coral. When the zooxanthellae leave, the coral will retain some color by way of its own pigments, but the result is a specimen that looks watery, translucent, or pastel. Given time and the appropriate conditions, the zooxanthellae will return or be replaced by a different zooxanthellae. Feeding helps give the coral enough energy to survive until new zooxanthellae return.
Ok. thx for the info. Stress is definately the culprit here as the lfs told me that one of thier customers had brought in the lil torch because it was being stung by another coral in the tank. Half of one side of one of the branches has died and the other half is still alive but bleached. The other branch is in good shape but bleached. I had no idea that this lil torch was so sick until now. I shouldnt have bought it. I will try frequent feedings and hope that it will respond as well as the frog i bought 4 weeks ago that was also bleached....thx again guys
