Distichipora will it live in our tanks?

[cyberpanther]

I recently saw a store selling Distichipora. From what I have read it has a very low survival rate in home aquariums. I do know it is non-photosynthetic and so on, but wondered if this is true, is it not suitable for the tank? If so does it just eat phyto? Thanks in advance.

 

[Anonymous]

hi.
It does catch phytos, and does not photosynthesize. Take a look at AAOM's archive. For most of us, they are still just temporary decorations rather than pets.

 

[Len]

I could never keep this genus alive for more then a few weeks.

 

[SteveP]

I read just yesterday that this coral is usually cared for improperly. Their natural position is hanging from the ceilings of caves, and we usually put them in the full light of our tanks.

Steve
8{I

 

[Chucker]

I read just yesterday that this coral is usually cared for improperly. Their natural position is hanging from the ceilings of caves, and we usually put them in the full light of our tanks.

Steve
8{I

I'd venture to say that the positioning of the coral in the wild is due to competition issues, and not lighting requirements. While I don't have any evidence to back it up, I'd bet that they (and other corals that feed similarly, like Dendronepthya spp.) are simply out-competed in well-lit areas by hermatypic specis.

 

[Len]

FWIW,

Mine was suspended upside down in my central cave, with about 400 gph of water move through the specimen at oscillating intervals. My aquarium houses non-photosynthetic sponges and tunicates rather well, but Distichipora has been impossible to keep in my tanks (as have Dendronephthya, Scleronephthea, and Alcyonium). I'm not sure what nutritional components is missing (I dose DT and Liquidlife Bioplankton).

 

[Cakepro]

Those are some beautiful corals. FFE has this gorgeous one for sale right now in their Awesome Corals section.

~ Sherri

 

[Anonymous]

hi.
It look like a piece of plastic to me. I will definitely get a plastic ones instead of a real coral.

 

[Len]

Distichopora aren't really corals in the classic sense (e.g. Cnidarians); they're hydrocorals. And they're impossible to keep alive in captivity (per personal experience and conversations with hobbyists). I've already dispatched an email to FFexpress requesting they don't sell this genus anymore. I recommend everyone avoid this species, unless you like wasting $70-150 and killing wildlife.

 

[Len]

Based on recent second hand reports, it's come to my attention that a few hobbyist have stated to be able to keep this genus alive for extended periods of time. However, it still difficult to argue that for the vast majority of hobbyist, Distichopora are likely to die under their care. I will try to confirm these reports of successful husbandry. FWIW, several public aquariums have been able to maintain them (Delbeek makes mention of this in his Advanced Aquarist article*). However, it should be noted that their aquariums are extremely large, and nearly all of them have high exchange water change rates, usually with fresh NSW. And their successes have been moderate and sporadic.
(* http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/ ... eature.htm)

 

[Jefe12234]

Actually hydrocorals are in the Cnidaria phylum. They are corals just like any other. And there are photosynthetic hydrocorals like Millepora which probably have much better chances in captivity.

I do agree that Distichopora and other non-photosynthetic corals are difficult to keep, but I would not say they are impossible. I plan on setting up a low light tank in the near future that will contain several non-photosynthetic species, possibly including Stylaster or Distichopora. I will do a lot of research before deciding on species, and this tank will be designed around them (lots of live plankton).

But they are a difficult coral that may very well die in the average tank.

-Chris

 

[Anonymous]

I've already dispatched an email to FFexpress requesting they don't sell this genus anymore. I recommend everyone avoid this species, unless you like wasting $70-150 and killing wildlife.

Good luck appealing to their "conservation" side. Money is the only thing that talks in this economy and if it sells, they will keep getting them in. You'll have better luck informing consumers how many rare and difficult species they sell and that they should avoid buying them en masse.

 

[Len]

Actually hydrocorals are in the Cnidaria phylum. They are corals just like any other. And there are photosynthetic hydrocorals like Millepora which probably have much better chances in captivity.

Chris,

My bad! I meant to state Anthozoa, not Cnidaria. Thanks for pointing it out. Millepora sp. has a great survival record; for most people, this genus grows like a weed.

I'm interested in any reports of successful husbandry of Distichipora. I have yet to encounter a hobbyist who has been able to keep this genus for an extended period of time (>1 yr). Any info you find on Distichipora's dietary requirements would be appreciated too. Information, from expereince, seems rather sparse (almost non-existant).

I've been having an extensive dialogue with Jim Newman of FFexpress, and FWIW, I've found him to be a very receptive, knowledgable, and conscientious individual. I'm fairly convinced he listens to all inputs and works to improve his company beyond the goal of the ubiquitous dollar. Hopeful, at least.