NPS gorg behavior normal?

[velvetelvis]

I bought a Swiftia exserta about 3 weeks ago. It's in an area with moderate flow (enough to make it gently wave). I feed it twice a day with cyclopeeze and/or rotifers and have seen the polyps take the food. When I first received the coral, the longest branch was missing about an eighth of an inch of flesh. I think I see a few tiny polyps beginning to creep back up over the exposed section.

I'd say the coral stays open about 80% of the time, but it does close up once or twice a day. I realize this is very early yet, but what signs should I be looking for to track how well the gorg is doing? It's my first try at keeping an NPS coral.

 

[Allmost]

give it time, for me at least they all started the same way ... didnt take long before it closed for good and ...
make notes of your feeding and everything else though ! you might break the bad luck and find the way to keep these guys.

one thing I found was higher po4 ... dont let it accumulate.

 

[noy]

I bought a Swiftia exserta about 3 weeks ago. It's in an area with moderate flow (enough to make it gently wave). I feed it twice a day with cyclopeeze and/or rotifers and have seen the polyps take the food. When I first received the coral, the longest branch was missing about an eighth of an inch of flesh. I think I see a few tiny polyps beginning to creep back up over the exposed section.

I'd say the coral stays open about 80% of the time, but it does close up once or twice a day. I realize this is very early yet, but what signs should I be looking for to track how well the gorg is doing? It's my first try at keeping an NPS coral.

Post a pic! They are lovely corals.

I have one of these. Mine was in much worst shape than yours (based on your description). So far I find they are not too bad to keep - probably put them on a scale as diodogorgia. btw - I keep mine in a colder water tank (72F)

So things to keep an eye on are:

1) Regular polyp extension
2) Continued food intake - rotifers are good. These are large polyps (for a gorg) so cyclopeez is good - the red frozen stuff is even better.
3) Restoration of the flesh over the exposed area. If you can feed more often than 2x - even better.
4) New Growth of small polyps
5) No algae or bacteria growth over the flesh - usually means decay.
6) rich red coloration (if you check out LFS - the ones in rough shape are in a pale orange)
7) branches stay thick and flexible - if they become thin/brittle - you are in bad shape.

A couple of close-ups of mine

IMG_1793

IMG_1796

 

[velvetelvis]

Thanks! I have some very bad pictures that I'll try to post. I'm also running this tank on the cooler side--about 74 F.

The coral looks good, FWIW. Nice intense color, flexible branches, polyps open most of the time and feeding actively on cyclop-eeze. No algae and no signs of tissue recession.

Is it possible to keep NPS gorgonians like Swiftia and Diodogorgia alive and healthy without using a continuous feeding device? I'm enjoying the Swiftia so much that I also ordered two Diodogorgia (one yellow, one red) from Diver's Den.

 

[velvetelvis]

I'm cautiously optimistic about the Swiftia...I noticed today that the bit of bare skeleton is now completely covered by tiny new polyps.

I decided against the Diodogorgia though, beautiful as they are. One species per NPS noob is enough of a challenge!