Sun coral (tubastrea) does not extend polyps

[electric_sheep]

Hello, i bought a sun coral recently and the problem is that the coral does not extend the polyps to feed it. I try the tapperware method two times and the only thing that coral do is to swelling and not extend the polyps. So what to do now ?

 

[leveldrummer]

set your alarm clock for 4am, then go check the tank with a dim light. if its open, feed it, then keep trying to get it to open during the day.

 

[ZephNYC]

YOu have to make them open by stimulating them with food. Get freeze dried copepods and squirt the coral with small amounts. wait 10 minutes and squirt a little more. It will open a little more each time. WHen it opens enough feed frozen mysis.

 

[MBC2012]

As stated u need to train the sun corals to eat. Using garlic as an appetizer is helpful. Squirt some on the coral with frozen or freeze dried food. Wait five minutes and feed again. The coral will learn what feeding time is.

 

[noy]

try this

i) get some direct flow on the coral (w/o any food) - i find that this stimulates them

ii) get a really smelly prompter food - i use this angel food feed that has clams and it has an obvious smell once i defrost it. Turn off your flow and spray it slowly at the coral so that the particles are still in the vicinity - wait 15 min - then turn on your flow. Watch the polyps and see if they react - they may not open fully but you may see it start to open. wait for about an hour and repeat.

iii) if ii) doesn't work - repeat this nightly but use a small container filled with tank water (i use these plastic storage containers) and take the coral out and put it in the container and repeat iii). use your hand to fan the food particles at the coral. repeat this.

Note - if the coral opens - feed it with your intended food.

sometimes it takes a while - i had one that took over a month before i got it going. You're pretty close - the worst cases are when the polyps stay completely reracted in the tube.

different people have different experiences - I've tested garlic as a prompter and have not found it particularly useful - it may be smelly but corals don't react to it.

let me know how things work out.

 

[R1_ERIC]

I saw a guy on youtube feeding his with a 2 liter bottle top cut off. he places the top over the coral and feeds it through where the cap would go. when they are done eating he removes it . thought it was a pretty good idea

 

[MBC2012]

That's a good idea for any coral. However, these corals will feed on their own when ready...

 

[small alien]

A tubastrea article.

http://aquariumanimals.blogspot.com/2012_10_01_archive.html

 

[rickcasa]

Great advice here esp Noy's...patience will pay off. Mine now stays open for as long as the lights are on. Good luck.

 

[Peachy Nano]

It took 2 weeks for my Dendro to come out of its tubes some, I can stimulate it to feed with Reef Chili (squirted in tank for other corals) then when it fully emerges it will CHOW DOWN on mysis :frog: