Open Brain Question

[TitanVA]

Can you tell me if this brain looks healthy? I keep reading how they will puff up but he isn't. He eats good looks just like he did when I got him. I just wanted to make sure he is ok if he is not getting big and puffed up. He just finished eating in this pic.

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[simonf]

It should definitely inflate more than that. What are your water params? Do you have any live stock that could be nipping or stinging it?

And its not doing so hot on the whole. You can see its skeleton, the white ridges poking through the flesh. This is usually due to starvation. Did it look like this whan you got it? How long have you had it?

How far down is it from you 250W MH's? I seem to remember that red open brains like lower light. So maybe try moving it into the shade.

Also what kind of flow is it in?It should have enough to keep it clean but not much more.

 

[TitanVA]

Water params

Amm - 0
nitri - 0
nitra - 0
Alk - 3.2
calc - 410
temp- 80

I only have 2 clownfish and I have not seen them go near it. I have only had it a week. I have fed it 3 times in that week, usually about 4 or 5 mysis and clyclopeeze. the tank is 23" deep soit is about 30" from the light. I will try moving it to a corner to get a little less light. the place I got it from said they had it uner 400 halides so I figured it would be ok. Should I try feeding more?

thanks

 

[gosaints]

your alk is low should be 8-11

 

[simonf]

Was it inflated in the store?

I would continue to feed it and try the lower light and see how things go for a few days.

 

[TitanVA]

that's 3.2 meq/Lso I think it is pretty good. I think in dKHthat makes it a little over 9 but I don't have the conversion in front of me. I am trying to find a shady place to put him. I fed him a big clump of mysis(about10) and he swelled up real big so I am thinking he may be a little underfed. He came from an online vendor so I only saw a photo and he looked good in the photo.

Thanks,

 

[gosaints]

my mistake. your probably right just needs more food.

 

[jerryz]

Try lower light and lower flow. I have a red open brain that didn't flourish until I moved it halfway into cave to protect from the flow in my tank.

 

[Joshua1023]

I agree w/ the lower light thing. I have a green that did the same thing until I shaded it a bit. The very next day it puffed up to full size. I was amazed at how fast the differance became aparant.