Operation save the pink frog spawn

[Shnabbles]

At the local death trap (LFS) i saw a pink frogspawn that had 2 main heads, but each head was spitting into thirds (so it would be 6 heads)...

Polyps on 1 main stalk were only out alittle bit, and the polyps on the 2nd heard were pretty retracted and showing some skeleton...

I decided to buy it hoping i could bring back the 2nd head.. and i think the 1st head will be fine..


Does anyone have any tips on giving this guy special attention? So he can be nursed back to health? I just spot fed it a mix of zooplankton, mysis shrimp, and cyclop eze.. It defintently grabbed some of it and i assume ate.

I hope i can bring this thing back to good health... if not i figure i at least save half of it.

 

[The steven liu]

Aside from supreme water condition, the only thing I'd add is some target feeding if you can, dispense some phytoplankton or even small pieces of meaty food will help the frogspawn on its protein needs. Typically speaking, I havn't seen many success in bringing back a frogspawn head from dying. The inside info I got from working at the aquarium trade is that certain holding facilities in the U.S. ( I don't know which one, unfortunately) has a disease spreading around that infects mostly lps like elegance, frogspawn, and bubbles, etc. Unfortunately I don't know which holding facility it is, but fortunately I know most LFS utilize several sources for their livestock so that some will arrive healthier than the other. If you suspect any parasite on the coral head (which happens alot) you can try fresh water dip see if it works.

 

[Shnabbles]

1 of the splitting heads has some serious skeleton showing where its splitting.... I dont know if its like this just because its mid split or what... i slowly/softly twisted the frogspawn upside down under water and some of the fleshy polyps from that head come out..

I fear this half of the frogspawn could already be dead... If i dont see any improvement over the next couple days im going to cut it in half and try to save the other head before it gets infected... if there is a infection

 

[Shnabbles]

sorry for the bad pic... you can tell the left head even though small has many polyps and i think i can at least save this half.

check out the right head.. the splitting head on the top right has some serious skeleton showing but there are still SOME polyps there... any chance of bringing this thing back or should i start fragging it up to save what i can?

What do you guys think?

 

[Sk8r]

Chaotic, but reasonable flow, medium light, good water numbers, and nothing upstream of it that could send it bad chemicals. Also protect it from shrimp and other 'pickers' that could exacerbate its situation. Mine is a day feeder, and even apparently dead spicules near the main heads can unexpectedly produce polyps.

 

[XeniaMania]

Lugol's dip.. Chances are the right side will continue to recess for a bit, but if there are some tiny polyps left, chances are it will recover.

 

[kahunakatz]

I would break off and remove the damaged head/cluster on the right hand side. Many LPS have a lot of nasty chemicals that they can release like anemones when they are going down hill. Also any infection on the damaged head might be able to spread and become opportunistic on the mostly healthy heads, do to proximity. I would say cut your losses and focus your attention on healing the rest of the colony. Or at least break off the damaged section, move it to the opposite end of the tank and run some extra carbon to pull out any harmful chemicals.

FYI most hard corals including Euphyllia spp. do not benefit from Phyto plankton. I would feed it Cyclops or Mysis to help fortify the colony. Amino Acid supplements may also help.

Best Wishes,
Barry Katz

 

[Shnabbles]

Thanks guys... I came home today and the right hand side was even more depleted. There was almost no polyps at all on the right.

I put it in a bucket of saltwater and sawed that half off... The left side is no looking better then it has as of yet...

I only paid $40 for the whole thin with the thought that even if i can only save the left hand side its a deal because I NEVER EVER see pink frogspawns online or in stores.

 

[wantsalotta]

ALOT LESS LIGHT until it heals....under a ledge or something will help tons

 

[Shnabbles]

Update:
The three heads that I saved are looking better and better everytime i look at it... polyps are starting to stick further out of the skeleton more and more.

 

[David Grigor]

Once the outer edges of the skeleton is exposed it is hit or miss to get it to stop receeding.

Feed alot, and move to a low light area which will encourage it to expand more and also discourage algae growth on the exposed areas.