Red open brain detached and still lives!

[Sanlynn]

I've had a red open brain in my 150g reef tank for over a year. It did well, then began to recede, then would do well again - with no obvious changes in tank, including water quality and lighting or position.

About two weeks ago it began to recede again, then ten days ago the flesh actually detached from the base completely. I caught it before it started floating in the tank and placed the flesh in a small cave.

As I feed the tank, the flesh continues to send out feeding tentacles. Anyway, while I wouldn't call it thriving, it does seem to continue to live.

Anyone have this experience? Will it try to attach to something again? I left the base in the tank, but not near the flesh since there was no way to protect the fleshy part from floating off and dissapearing into unknown crevices. At least where it is I can monitor it. It feels a little Harry Potterish, if you know what I mean?

 

[lbaskball45]

how about a picture?

 

[Sanlynn]

The brain in happier days (April 2006) and resting base-less in cave (Oct 2006)

 

[ozzmosis]

I've never heard of that happening. I hope all turns out well.

 

[Sanlynn]

Thanks, ozzmosis, no one I talked to, including an LFS owner with 40+ years' experience ever heard of it either...this hobby continues to astound and amaze!

 

[slojmn]

It sort of sounds like polyp bail out which you can search for and see if you get any hits on old threads. As far as I know polyp bail out is usually a sign of stress and, from the recesses of my mind, I think it may not be a good thing....like probably not going to survive. But as you said the hobby continues to amaze me and weird things do happen. I say if it is still taking in food and surviving maybe it can re-build a stony base. Good Luck

 

[redFishblue]

I've heard of acan lord that have done this.
But it gradually declined and died.

 

[RandyO]

I've seen this happen with Trachyphyllia, Cynarina, Echinophyllia and Acanthastrea. The Echinophyllia detached from the skeleton by 90%. It was only connected at the corners. A friend brought it to me this way, and it was able to make a full recovery. But that was the only case of survival I've seen.

 

[lbaskball45]

Just thought I let you know, it looks like you have aiptisa, you maybe thats what was causing him to move. It looks like there were at lesat 2 in the first picture. I heard aptisias can sting corals.

 

[Sanlynn]

You're right - the tank is getting overridden with aiptasia. So far, nothing I've tried, including Joe's Juice, No Aiptasia, lemon juice, pure calcium works. I was thinking of getting a long-nosed butterfly fish but that would eat a featherduster and clam that I really like. So now I'm thinking of getting berghia nudibranches, but I have to catch the shrimp I have first or the berghia just become an expensive snack.
Meanwhile, the brain lives...

 

[jman77]

I've read if it happening before... try to keep it well fed and happy and it could regrow it's skeleton.....

BTW ... i currently have a bubble coral that did something like this. It's only attached to the old skeleton at the corners. .... It's been like this for 4 months but is still happy and alive. I try to feed it every couple of days to keep it nice and plump