Birdnest Frag

G

guitareefs

Premium Member
I picked up a 1 inch frag last night and the lady said it hadn't been doing well. It looked pale pink in a few places and so I acclimated it last night and this morning it was in my tank. I run a 4 bulb T5 fixture and it is up top. It is still looking a bit pale, what do I look for as a sign of it getting better? When do I know it's a gonner?
 
Do the polyps extend? Post a pic of it. Generally you look for any white areas or the polyps receding. It depends on the type of "birdsnest", but when I've had some not doing well, they either bleach or suck in the polyps and the tissue dies. You will sometimes see crabs picking at it if tissue is dying. Picture would help :)
 
Pic

It just looks dark pink where the polyps are, no extension yet. One tip is black, the very tip of the frag.
 
Of course the pic isn't ideal but that's the best I could do on my Sony Mavica :?

I am seeing tiny polyps extending now...maybe that's a start
 
What do your tank parameters look like? Ca, pH, Alk, & Mg and do you have other SPS corals in your tank and how are they doing?
 
Ca: 500
Mg: 1400
Alk: 8

can't test pH, dont' have a monitor yet

I don't have any other SPS. This and my new zoas are my first corals
 
From the picture it looks like the back part of the coral has bleached and is dead with some green algae growing on it. The front (pink) is still alive but I do not see any polyps. You need to know what the pH is running and as far as your parameters the Ca is a little high but OK. Since you stated that it was not doing well when you got it and the shock of moving it to another tank could be just too much for it to handle. Let’s see what it looks like in a few days.
 
The bottom branch is really getting color back but no polyp extension yet. Everything else hasn't changed...still the same :?
 
I'm seeing more and more polyps but is turning white on the bottom. It's working it's way up :sad:

Should I toss it?
 
@guitareefs wrote:
I'm seeing more and more polyps but is turning white on the bottom. It's working it's way up :sad: Should I toss it? said:
No I would cut it just above where it is bleaching and remount using supper glue. If it has polyps it is alive.
Click to expand...
 
Can you tell me what I can use to cut it with? And what super glue is reef safe? Is there a certain brand or something? I can just mount it on a rock?
 
Cutters like this will work. http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~action~view~idProduct~BA1311~idCategory~FIMTCP~category~Coral_Propagation_Tools-Maintenance-Saltwater_Aquarium_Supplies~vendor~.html

In the past I used supper glue that I got at the Hobby Lobby but most I am currently using Loctite. When glueing be careful not to get any on the living portion of the coral as it will kill it. Use a towel to dry the base of the coral and hold in place until the glue sets 5 - 10 min then carefully place back in the tank.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top