Rescue Corals

Just an update, my trumpet that was stung by my wall hammer has made a full recovery and is on the verge of splitting finally! Also seeing tissue inflation from my blasto too. Not a lot, but it's on it's way I'm hoping.

Mag and sal. Are still a little high, but on their way down. Don't want to lower them too quickly.

Also added a new welsophyllia that is doing wonderfully! It's my first one so I'm excited about that. Any advice on these is greatly welcomed. I've done plenty of research, but if anyone has any secret tips or anything that would be fantastic, thanks! :)

Hope all are well! Love this forum and especially this thread! Happy 3rd birthday!
 
Congrats BxS_Reefer! That's great!

P.S. Wellsophyllias were renamed to Trachyphyllia a few years back. I just keep mine in low light and low flow...unless they start expanding too much (and threaten other corals), then I move them into higher light and higher flow.
 
All thanks to what I learned from you and this thread of your Mecheng!

And is that so!? I had heard both names and thought they were two different species. I suppose someone should inform my lfs about this name change! 😋

Thanks again,

Shawn
 
Aw, thanks - but the thanks definitely should go to everyone on this thread. I've learned a ton in the last few years!

Yup, wellsophyllia was the term for more "fluffy" looking specimens of Trachyphyllia, but it turns out that there's just Trachyphyllia geoffroyi. Collection location seems to create different appearances in the same species. I don't think most people know that, so no big deal. But, now you can just smile whenever someone says "wellsophyllia".
 
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Well just picked up this open brain today for $5. I found it in my LFS thats pretty... sketchy shall we say. This little guy survived a fire that burned down the entire building and killed pretty much everything. Its been 4 months since the fire. So I feel particularly inspired to save this one. I was told it still has its mouth, but since I've never had one of these before, I can't seem to find it. That said I also couldn't find any on a healthy specimen right next to it.

I gave it a 2 hour drip acclimation, and so far based on the first 7 pages of this thread that I read, my plan is to give it low light to shade and feed it every other day or so. I made myself some seafood mush for this guy. Shrimp, flounder, pollock, nori, and a few drops of trace elements.

From what I've read these guys like to feed after lights go out, generally with feeder tentacles. This one I'm not so sure has the feeder tentacles, granted I haven't really seen it after the photoperiod, so... maybe. If not, should I just drop the mush on the mouth and see if it'll eat? If not remove it after about 15ish minutes? Or should I just go straight to the tupperware method for the first couple feedings?

Any other tips would be greatly appreciated! Hopefully I can add another success story to the thread!
 
Hi 00101 - That is a Trachyphyllia, which is (in this thread's experience) once of the more difficult corals to rescue. If you look at the skeleton, the algae-covered skeleton indicates that the coral had significant die-off a while back. The freshly exposed skeleton (white) indicates the coral had a significant recent die-off. The mouth was in the center of the coral, where there are no skeletal ridges. Sometimes in larger Trachyphyllia, there are multiple mouths. I don't see an obvious mouth remaining (but the photo angle may be the cause), but there may be some remaining mouth tissue that can possibly regenerate (although unlikely with Trachy's.)

Trachyphyllia coral do have tentacles (as with other stony coral). In a healthy coral, they will emerge from the tissue in the line where the large skeletal ridges turn into smaller ridges circling the mouth. Unhealthy corals will often not expend the energy to extend their tentacles.

As far as feeding goes, there has to be a mouth. And...feeding a partial mouth really isn't worthwhile (the food usually just floats away or falls out.) Right now, the coral still has a healthy population of zooxanthallae (evidenced by the coral's coloration), which should be enough to provide energy to the coral for healing. I would wait to feed until the coral has a healing mouth in order to avoid giving it food that will probably just rot and speed its demise.

I didn't see any mention of a coral dip, quarantine, or any other preventative measures. These are essential to protect your reef and your new acquisition. Coral dips can help with infections, parasites, and some nuisance algae. I hope you'll consider them in your future coral purchases.

Good luck!!
 
Well I gave him a quick Iodine dip. A bunch of pods and some algae came off him. I also come with a better picture not from a cell phone! This picture is under pretty heavily blue lighting. Is that circled part the mouth? If so its open a bit... which is not good news.

My params are pretty good. 0 or very close to 0 nitrates and phosphates, high 8 to low 9 dKH and 380Ca. No fish to pick at him. So hopefully he'll bounce back.

http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/4782/17l9.jpg
 
Um, it could be a mouth...or it could be decayed tissue (still can't tell from the photo.) I wish you all the luck, but if it were my rescue, I wouldn't get my hopes up.
 
Yeah. But for $5 I had to give it a shot. And of course when I get inspired by the rescue thread and go out and get one, it turns out to be a species that generally doesn't recover well. Oh well haha.
 
About 3 months ago I stumbled upon this piece. The local fish store knows my interests and asked if I would be interested in a free piece of coral. As would most of us, I answered yes before I even saw the coral. He took me in the back to the quarantine tank and showed me what use to be a small skittles Acan colony. The reason I say use to be is it had one small piece of tissue left with a little less than half a mouth visible. Remembering this article from over a year ago I thought I would give it a whirl.

3 Months ago I dosed it Lugol's and turned my lights to about 30% and cut my flow in half. I have been target feeding for the entire time and keep my calcium a little on the high side 600.

Since them I have my lights at 45% (I have never kept my lights above 60%) and have turned my flow up as well. I am glad to say now I have three full mouths!!

However I keep on debating if I should trim the dead algaefide skeleton or trim it? I was hoping for a little faster recovery but nothing good happens fast. Just was wondering your recommendations. Thank you
 

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00101 said:
Yeah. But for $5 I had to give it a shot. And of course when I get inspired by the rescue thread and go out and get one, it turns out to be a species that generally doesn't recover well. Oh well haha.
Click to expand...

Ohh, I understand all too well. On the bright side, the corals that I'm 100% sure will recover often don't...and the ones that I think have 0 chance often do. It's those surprise ones that I treasure the most.

acan horder said:
About 3 months ago I stumbled upon this piece. The local fish store knows my interests and asked if I would be interested in a free piece of coral. As would most of us, I answered yes before I even saw the coral. He took me in the back to the quarantine tank and showed me what use to be a small skittles Acan colony. The reason I say use to be is it had one small piece of tissue left with a little less than half a mouth visible. Remembering this article from over a year ago I thought I would give it a whirl.

...

However I keep on debating if I should trim the dead algaefide skeleton or trim it? I was hoping for a little faster recovery but nothing good happens fast. Just was wondering your recommendations. Thank you
Click to expand...

Ahh, very nice find! It definitely has potential. With such little tissue left, I'd be nervous trimming the skeleton unless you had a bandsaw. A bad frag could worsen its condition. Instead, I'd just try to keep the skeleton as free of algae as possible...maybe blow it off with a syringe daily if necessary. Once the two remaining polyps have grown together, then I'd think about trimming. Are you feeding it at all? 1-3x per week feedings may help speed the growth.
 
MechEng99 said:
Ahh, very nice find! It definitely has potential. With such little tissue left, I'd be nervous trimming the skeleton unless you had a bandsaw. A bad frag could worsen its condition. Instead, I'd just try to keep the skeleton as free of algae as possible...maybe blow it off with a syringe daily if necessary. Once the two remaining polyps have grown together, then I'd think about trimming. Are you feeding it at all? 1-3x per week feedings may help speed the growth.
Click to expand...

Yes,
Target feed a mix of Phyto/oyster egg/coral frenzy once a week and broadcast feed reef roids/Rod's original once a week. I do have a Band saw but when I frag I normally use a wet tile saw or scroll saw. I did think about trying to change my tanks setup with GFO and/or carbon but that is always "scary" because you never know unintended consequences.
 
Rescue Corals

MechEng, what should I do about this lobo that died in the middle? I've had it for about a month now. It's doing well, but not sure it will grow back very well do to the skeleton in the middle.
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Yikes - that's a new one on me. Here are some options to consider that all should work:

1. Frag the whole thing up with a band saw. You could probably get two nice sized pieces or a bunch of smaller heads.

2. Let it be. It'll eventually grow back over, but it will take some time to fill the center back in.

3. Take a dremel and smooth out the sharp edges. This will help it grow back over...but it'll still take a while.

4. Use a dremel to smooth out the sharp edges. Make a slurry of super glue and sand...and fill in the giant holes. The coral should grow over this faster than the gaping hole. But, it may look even uglier for the time being.
 
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