Protecting Dendros while feeding?

[MargieInAZ]

I recently got a Dendro. Had him about two weeks now with no problems at all. He's beautiful and already budding some new babies at the base. I've had no problem with feeding him, and he closes up around the food almost immediately.
But today, about 10-15 minutes after I fed him and the Duncan, as well as the fish, I happened to look over at the tank to see my Melanarus Wrasse poking him pretty hard. He was semi-closed at the time because I had just fed him, but he closed right up completely with the attack of the Wrasse.
He remained closed tightly the rest of the day. He's opened a little this evening, but not anywhere as much as he normally is at this time. Plus, he looks a little lopsided now, not evenly opening all his tentacles.

So, I guess my question is two part.
1. Has this happened to your Dendros before, and did they recover okay?
I'm hoping mine will be back to normal tomorrow.

2. Do you protect your Dendro when feeding? I do cover my sun coral with a cut off plastic bottle because he doesn't pull in the food as quickly as the Dendro and Duncan, and I felt he was vulnerable to fish stealing his food.
But because the Dendro and Duncan close up and pull in their food so quickly, I didn't feel it was necessary. Plus, where I have them placed right now, makes it more difficult to cover with a plastic bottle.

So, what do you more seasoned Dendro and Duncan caregivers do to protect them from fish? After this happened to my Dendro, I'm also worried about my Duncan.

Thanks!

 

[reefnetworth]

MargieInAZ, i cut flow when i feed my sun corals and use my mag-float to chase away food stealers, fish and shrimp.
i keep the m-f about 4"-5" away and barely move it and everybody scatters, its the inhabitants fight for survival instinct.

doing that has become a game to me, :lol: but i have a very healthy and growing like crazy sun coral with 67 head count. it only had 31 when i bought it!!!

FWIW, i use a 36" solid 1/4" tube i found at PetSmart for $1.89 ea. i slowly suck the food into it, and blow it back out very gently!

 

[stunreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14012481#post14012481 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefnetworth
FWIW, i use a 36" solid 1/4" tube i found at PetSmart for $1.89 ea. i slowly suck the food into it, and blow it back out very gently!

Do you literally suck the food wioth your mouth into the tube? Just curious... I use the Kent Marine Sea Squirt.

Margie, this is just another "fun" part of the hobby :lol: chasing your fish! I use a piece of rigid air line tubing to "chase" them around and away from my NPS coral during feeding.

 

[kass03]

I use a turkey baster works well for alot of reef keeping and it's cheap.

I also have to chase my hippo tang away. He bites on the baster now where he used to hide when I fed the tank.

I also squirt some mysis for the fish before I feed the dendro.

kass

 

[Angel2626]

I've had this happen too. I actually lost 2 large heads of Dendro b/c I didn't realize that my shrimp was stealing his food after I fed him. I just watch closely now when I feed him, until he has closed up all the way around the food to prevent the food snatchers.

 

[devilsrule2004]

turkey baster sounds like a good idea.. epecially knowing it cheap.. or free lol

 

[tigerarmy40]

put a strawbery basket over the coral while you feed...to make it convenient you can attach one to a long piece of plastic so you dont have to put your arm in there every day at feding time