Any Advice With My Sea Pen?

[KaeSean]

I Recently Purchased A Sea Pen Coral. Was Stressed In Commute On The Way To Its New Home. Any Advice For: Diet, Currents Flow, Nocturnal Or Not? Is Closing Up At Night Normal?

 

[reefman]

Sea pens are often mishandled and damaged during shipping, they have very specific needs in the aquarium, and they are sensitive and easily stressed. Therefore you should also seriously ask yourself if your aquarium and husbandry skills are up to the challenge before you consider adding one of these animals to your aquarium. they need to be fed quite a lot. These animals typically prey on an abundance of tiny plankton (such as invertebrate larvae, suspended detritus and larger phytoplankton), and their efficiency of capturing such particles is directly influenced by the flow rate of water in the aquarium.

 

[KaeSean]

@reefman Wow, I was recommended this coral as a beginner. Wasn't told about the eating, they told me not to feed it. It eats what's around the tank. Thank you very much though. I will use your tips. Also does it like heavy flow? I have strong currents

 

[tomtoothdoc]

@reefman Wow, I was recommended this coral as a beginner. Wasn't told about the eating, they told me not to feed it. It eats what's around the tank. Thank you very much though. I will use your tips. Also does it like heavy flow? I have strong currents

who or which fish store told you that they are for beginner? they are pretty difficult to keep even for an experience reefer. they need to be fed and fed often. here is a link for some info.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/10/inverts

 

[KaeSean]

@tomtoothdoc Petland, and I just started this tank. This is my first coral in there. I'm still doing final changes in the tank with the rock which will be finished today then he should be fine. However he has been FULLY expanded other than at night when the lights are off

 

[dacaptain78]

If you are not up to the task of constantly feeding this coral I would print out the description above and bring that and the sea pen back to petland and ask for a refund. Tell them that they sold you a difficult to keep coral under false pretenses. I imagine they would give you store credit at the very minimum.

Unfortunately misinformation is pretty prevalent in this hobby. It's always best to do your own research before purchasing any animal to make sure you understand what you are getting into. Unless you truly trust your LFS i would take anything they tell you with a grain of salt.

Anyway, good luck with the coral if you do decide to keep it.

 

[albano]

they are pretty difficult to keep even for an experience reefer.

+1

...I just started this tank. This is my first coral in there...

IMO , there are NO corals that I would consider 'beginner corals' for a NEW tank... You need to wait for the tank (that you just added LR to) to cycle and stabilize ... I would say that the chance for the seapen survival is 0

 

[KaeSean]

If you are not up to the task of constantly feeding this coral I would print out the description above and bring that and the sea pen back to petland and ask for a refund. Tell them that they sold you a difficult to keep coral under false pretenses. I imagine they would give you store credit at the very minimum.

Unfortunately misinformation is pretty prevalent in this hobby. It's always best to do your own research before purchasing any animal to make sure you understand what you are getting into. Unless you truly trust your LFS i would take anything they tell you with a grain of salt.

Anyway, good luck with the coral if you do decide to keep it.

Thanks, definitely will do my own research from now on. He's doing great as of now. I will be feeding him every other day to keep up with his diet

 

[KaeSean]

He's Doing Good So Far, Did Some Heavy Research