unhappy yuma

[whosinpower]

Purchased a ricordea yuma a couple of weeks ago. Set it at the bottom of a 90 gallon tank - on the sand, propped under a rock outcropping - so it has partial shade. The rock actually has 5 yuma's on it - one adult and 4 little guys. The adult was the one mostly shaded.

I have T-5 lighting that runs 8 hours/day - 6 hours full lighting, and 2 hours reduced lighting.

I have been target feeding the yuma's every other day with coral frenzy. When I let the coral frenzy dribble onto them, the colors brightened up and little ball thingies expanded, mouth would open wide. I assumed this was a positive response.

A couple of days ago, the adult started to close up and look decidedly unhappy - smaller ones looked fine. The bigger one has not fully opened up, the little ball thingies have reduced and significantly lightened, although the base colour is much brighter.

At first I thought that the big one was not getting enough light - the smaller ones still look good - so last night I moved the rock so all would get the same amount of light.....but maybe I have it backwards - and I need to put them further in the shade and reduce lights for a couple more weeks.

Any advice to this newbie would be greatly appreciated.

 

[geoxman]

There is no need to target feed them in the beginning. What is you alk and PH? Was it a wild colony? If so they are tough to get them to live. good luck!

 

[zukihara]

Wild yumas can be hit or miss and you probably can't do much about them but take a chance.

I agree with geo, I wouldn't target feed them for now.

My experience with yumas is that they do well in light a lot more than expected and the brighter colors like even more light. Perhaps the best way that I've found to make a yuma happy is with the correct orientation regarding flow. With a decent flow blowing into them they tend to expand more than in some crevice receiving little or no water movement.

 

[geoxman]

agreed