Trumpet/Candy Cane Corals

[smokinprice]

I went away for a week on a business trip and came home to this. I dont know what is going on with it. I did read that this happens but I wanted to hear what some of you think. I have a second one that is fine. All levels are fine and the salinity is 10.26. Any ideas? Also I have enclosed a before photo so you can see that it is fine. What is interesting is that the "stalk" appears to be bleached white.

 

[smokinprice]

Any takers?? Anyone out there have any thoughts?

 

[ReefRascals]

Have you had them for a while? It seems like there's a nick in one or two of the polyps, exposing some of the skeleton.

 

[smokinprice]

Yeah. I ahve had them for about 5 or 6 months now. I just dont want them to die.

 

[ReefRascals]

I might get a second opinion regarding your water quality...maybe a local store. I would do a water change...20% or so. And check your water temperature. Make sure it's 78 degrees +/-.

 

[smokinprice]

Ok. Thanks for the info ReefRascals

 

[JMAONE]

Hi Jeff!

I promised you I get back to you.. from my thread "Candy Cane ... melting".

Some of mine actually also looks like that! I really hope that this is some initial stage in their reproducing...

Keep me updated.. okey!

Regards

 

[Sk8r]

You will see them produce two mouths and go figure-eight in their shape before they divide. Keeping your alkalinity spot-on is a help. The salinity is ok, but I keep mine at 1.025 so that if there is a delay in topoff it doesn't rise over 1.026.

 

[ReefRascals]

I will assure you both that it is not an initial stage of reproduction. These are relatively tough corals but don't wait for things to get worse. Check the regular things to begin with - ph, Alkalinity, Salinity and Temperature. Do a water change if necessary and see if they perk up.

Also consider the type of lighting you have.

 

[The_Taz_Devil]

What lighting do you have this candy cane under and how far away from it ?

 

[DragonFish]

My candy did the exact same thing after a heat spike. My tank hit 90 for a few hours. This behavior seems to be a natural defense to that. Mine looked like this for nearly a month then one by one the polyps started looking normal again. Shortly thereafter every single head split in two, effectively doubling my colony size. Keep an eye on it, as long as it doesn't look like it is receding more you should be okay. If you do see the flesh receding more and more I'd get it to a different tank to recover while you figure out what in your tank is causing it.

 

[johnnybravo234]

Mine died off like that before and then came back within a couple months and now there are twice as many heads. Dont know how or why it happened but im happy it didnt die.