Project: Elegance Rescue

Sharkbait1

New member
Yep I did it. Saw an Elegance in the LFS a few weeks ago and talked myself out of it for various reasons (space and $$). Went in yesterday and it was still there but had lost all it's color but was still expanded. talked to the owner and we talked about what happened. He doesn't feed sale tank not good flow and a other little stuff... So we all know where this is going, after he gave me 50% off his 50% off sale (dying corals get marked down) I "rescued"it.
Now onto the hard part... How do I get it to color back up? I can see some pale green in it now with the actinics on so hasn't completely lost ALL it's color. I acclimated it and after being in the tank 10 minutes it's huge! Didn't think it would expand that much. Bought some coral food that I will try to feed it tonight. Anyone have any other suggestions !
Maybe the expansion is bad and part of the disease but the polyps were out too just not like normal.
I'm posting here for ideas on saving it; if it's possible
Pics of what it looks like now.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/Sharkbait1/Elegance/photo?authkey=WZmXn0MKnHc#5157653961019541810"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/Sharkbait1/R5Oq83z0yTI/AAAAAAAAAJY/0J8PASLaDlE/s400/DSC_2484.JPG" /></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/Sharkbait1/Elegance/photo?authkey=WZmXn0MKnHc#5157653978199411010"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/Sharkbait1/R5Oq93z0yUI/AAAAAAAAAJg/HyKLEGNttIY/s400/DSC_2485.JPG" /></a>
 
It looks like a Fox coral to me too. Did it ever have tentacles when it was expanded? If it really is an elegance and the tentacles are retracted, it will probably not survive. Try a meaty food near the mouths with low flow and see if it pulls it in. Good luck.
 
So foxes have no tentacles ? Would a fox eat meaty foods ? Could I use that to tell the difference ?

I'm pretty sure it was a pale green when I first saw it but now I can't remember the tentacles. Hoping for it to be a fox now. At least it will healthy then.
 
A new pic of what I think might be tentacles.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/Sharkbait1/Elegance/photo?authkey=WZmXn0MKnHc#5157759393876724082"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/Sharkbait1/R5QK13z0yXI/AAAAAAAAAKs/4HIuE213ojc/s400/DSC_2500.JPG" /></a>

If they are then this elegance is definitely a goner as it swells pretty big (especially with MH off) but no tentacles.
 
I hate to disagree with everyone, but that is a very sick Elegance. It does look alot like a fox coral but it isn't. Outside of any lighting issues, judging from the algae growth on the sand the water quality is probably not favorable to the corals recovery. There is absolutely no way you can feed that coral.
 
@Elegance. Was kinda waiting for you to chime in..
As for water quality it is actually very good. I use NSW and do a 5 gal change on my 28 every weekend(pic the day before change.Now gone) That spot just gets diatoms the rest of the tank is good. Lighting is a 150 MH with actinic.
You seem to be the elegance master. Everyone says it's a fox what makes you say it's not. Please share your knowledge. As the store sold it as a elegance.
And more importantly is there anything I can do for it?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11647463#post11647463 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sharkbait1
A new pic of what I think might be tentacles.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/Sharkbait1/Elegance/photo?authkey=WZmXn0MKnHc#5157759393876724082"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/Sharkbait1/R5QK13z0yXI/AAAAAAAAAKs/4HIuE213ojc/s400/DSC_2500.JPG" /></a>

If they are then this elegance is definitely a goner as it swells pretty big (especially with MH off) but no tentacles.

I see spots that should be tetacles in this picture. I don't think fox coral has that kind of texture.

IMO, the polyps extend a lot. That makes it looks limilar to fox. I don't see mine does that when it completely receeded tentacles. Not sure if it's good or bad tho.
 
We need a sideways picture at the skeleton. Is it long and thin? It really looks like a fox coral to me too and from your description of it's expansion, this indicates to me that it's a fox as well.
 
if i'm correct a fox will extend small feeder tentacles at night similar to a trachy. if this is so than thats probably wut you are seeing, those pics look like they were takin under actinics so its either at night or in the morning.
 
I agree with Elegance coral in that i is catalaphyllia. This seems to be the outcome if the animal survives the symptoms of elegance coral disease. I dont believe fox corals have and feeder tentacles like trachyphyllia do. There is no rim of tentacles like other "feeder tentacle" LPS at the junction of the oral disc and outer rim of flesh. I have never seen animals recover to their original condition from this disease, do not attempt to place this animal in the same tank with healthy elegance corals or in the tank shortly afterwards as this disease is contageous. Check out this months reef keepers online magazine.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11657828#post11657828 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kramgnik
I agree with Elegance coral in that i is catalaphyllia. This seems to be the outcome if the animal survives the symptoms of elegance coral disease. --snip-- Check out this months reef keepers online magazine.

So you think this one might be a survivor ? And the article confused me more than it helped.. :rolleyes:
What is the best thing to feed these guys.
Will a fox take meaty foods ?


I am trying to get a side shot to show off the skeleton but might have to do a little re-arranging to get it.. What's the skeleton look like for the elegance? the Fox ?

Thanks to everyone that has chimed in and offered there help.
 
That looks like a bleached fox corals. here is a pic of what my looked 3 years ago
aquariumDec2005013.jpg
 
Wow. This thread is all over the place. There is absalutly no doubt in my mind that Sharkbait's coral is an Elegance. Yes, it does look a lot like a Fox coral, but this just shows how incredibly ill the coral is. Sharkbait, your corals skeleton comes to a point like these, right?
dscn0679wj2.jpg

dscn0678eh1.jpg


I wish I could just say, "Do X and it will heal your coral." Unfortunately it doesn't work that way. Your coral is very ill. It's tissues have been ravaged and its ability to gain nourishment is all but completely gone. It can't feed and its zooxanthellae are gone. Its only hope is to absorb nutrients directly from the water. I have seen some improvement in these corals by dosing vitamins and amino acids. In some systems they may be able to obtain nourishment from dissolved foods left over from feeding other animals. These corals are very sensitive. Elevated temps even in the low to mid 80's can be fatal. Water quality must stay very high with very good filtration. In its weakened state there are many different organisms that will take advantage of it. Filtering the water will help keep the population of these organisms low. Iodine dip may help, but is not a cure all. Even with lower light levels, cooler temps, and low flow, if the coral was to survive, it will be years before it is truly healthy again.
 
Thanks Elegance.. I know there is no quick fix and I am willing to go through what ever it takes to nurse it back.
I am giving it vitamins and amino acid now. i also try to make sure it get a little food when I target feed my SPS. It is in low but constant flow and temp never gets to 80.. But low light would be better for it?
And skeleton is not conical, but more flat and thin.
Best pics I could get without stressing it out unnecessarily.
Side A<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/Sharkbait1/Elegance/photo?authkey=WZmXn0MKnHc#5158546105977534162"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/Sharkbait1/R5bWWixD9tI/AAAAAAAAAMo/x00Sz-RZj7A/s400/DSC_2511.JPG" /></a>
Side B<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/Sharkbait1/Elegance/photo?authkey=WZmXn0MKnHc#5158546290661127906"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/Sharkbait1/R5bWhSxD9uI/AAAAAAAAAL0/A5U2bNyEvOw/s400/DSC_2512.JPG" /></a>
Side C<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/Sharkbait1/Elegance/photo?authkey=WZmXn0MKnHc#5158546522589361922"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/Sharkbait1/R5bWuyxD9wI/AAAAAAAAAMI/Ns0MW43MbFY/s400/DSC_2514.JPG" /></a>
Side D<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/Sharkbait1/Elegance/photo?authkey=WZmXn0MKnHc#5158549876958820114"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/Sharkbait1/R5bZyCxD9xI/AAAAAAAAAMs/GTlRRwSJZ40/s400/DSC_2515.JPG" /></a>
 
Still looks like an Elegance to me. The pics I posted aren't truly cone shaped either. More like ice cream cones that have been flattened from one side. Giving it a V shape when viewed from the side, like yours.
Yes, lower light levels should help. In my opinion, bright light is what caused your corals problems in the first place. Now the coral is dealing with the damage caused by the over exposure to light and the organisms that are taking advantage of the corals weakened state. The odds are stacked against the poor thing right now.
 
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