Open brain splitting

[Sangogo]

I bought an open brain that was already in the process of splitting. The two sides are pinching up and there are already multiple mouths. However, unlike my other open brain (which I feed chopped up clams to), I have no idea how to feed this thing. The mouths are super tiny. It hasn't shrunk in any way, and still puts out feelers when I put plankton in the tank, but I'm sure it would better be served with some spot-feeding into the mouths.

Attempts at feeding mysis have so far been ignored by said open brain. The place I bought it from said that while they will grow faster with feedings, I don't necessarily have to spot feed them. (Right... like I buy that one.)

Any ideas on what and how to feed it?

 

[RokleM]

I'm not sure where you got your info, but I think they probably gave you an extra incentive to purchase it based on nothing I wouldn't necessarily guess that's it's splitting from the picture. Mine has three mouths. I've seen up to five mouths on one before. They fold up like that normally.

Wait 15-30min after the lights go out. If TONS of feelers come out, that's a good time to try some mysis again.

 

[Sangogo]

Actually, they didn't say it was splitting. That was my own recent assumption based on the presence of multiple mouths and the two folds looking like they are merging. (I bought it solely for the color pattern. At the time I ordered it, I had no idea what symptoms accompany splitting anyway.) My other open brain has only one very large mouth, which is easy to feed and rarely puts out feelers.

 

[RokleM]

Understood. I would watch it at night and see if it would take food a little easier. As well, you could try smaller items like chopped mysis or cylopheeze. I target feed a few of my corals like this, although my brain will eat whole mysis. The mouths are all closed, but about 4-5mm wide, and 1 mm tall.

 

[Sangogo]

Thanks for the advice. I feed the entire tank frozen cyclop-eez, (though we just call them "red plankton" here).

Do you have a recommended way to target feed the brain? Should I put a cover (soda bottle top) over and just squirt in?

 

[RokleM]

I actually use a turkey baster. I get everything ready in a bowl (have plenty of excess water in there because you don't want to blast 100% cylop at the coral), suck in a little bit, and gently squeeze near the coral.

 

[jerryz]

lol I use tweezers and he just grbs it right up. My big question is how often do you feed?