sun polyp question

[riotj]

Hey folks

I have is one polyp frag that is the size and looks like a cig butt, literally, except the filter is orange! Any way, it partially opens up but the mouth is so small that even cut up pieces of brine shrimp don't work. Any ideas on keeping it alive?

 

[simonf]

riotj,

To feed it I would try putting it in a small glass of tank water with the food and just let it eat all it wants for like 20 minutes.

As for what to feed it you have lots of choices. Unless they are gut loaded i'd stay away from brine shrimp since the don't have a lot of nutritional value. I've had good success with frozen rotifers, mysis, cyclopeeze, small chunks of raw shrimp, they don't seem very picky. Also you may want to try larger foods, mysis or such, you'll be amazed how much and how big of pieces they can eat when they really open up.

You shouldn't have a problem keeping it alive they are pretty hardy just be sure to feed it often.

Simon

 

[simonf]

here are a few pages on them also search for 'Tubastrea/sun coral feeding'. RC has lots of posts on their care/feeding.

Eric Borneman page on sun corals

melev's sun coral page

 

[riotj]

Thanks Simon

But this thing is small - probably less than the diameter of a cigarette butt. Removing them from the tank even in the same water won't disturb him enough to not open up? When a crab goes by he shrivels up for hours. I think I"ll try the Cyclopeeze and read the pages you sent .

Jope

 

[simonf]

Definitely try different foods and see what it likes. Initially mine wouldn't open for mysis, cyclopeeze, or brine but would for rotifers. Now it eats anything it can catch.

One advantage to feeding in a separate container is that you can add tons of food and just let the coral sit in it until it opens up and eats all it wants. This can be hard with flow and other animals in the tank. Additionally this allows you to heavily feed the coral without fowling you tank water.