How long to keep sun coral in cup for feeding?

[wwinters]

I am placing my sun coral in a cup 2x a week for feeding. at night I take the cup out of the tank and feed the coral in the cup of tank water then transfer the coral to the main tank and throwing out the water in the cup.
This seems to be working well but I don't know how long should I let the coral sit in the cup with the food.

If I put the sun coral back in the tank with food hanging out then my clown fish atack it, steal the food and drop the coral on the bottom of my tank.

 

[danmhippo]

What have you been feeding it, and are you dropping the food on the polyps, AND, have you seen the polyps take the food in?

 

[wwinters]

I have been feeding it varied frozen food Formula one or mysis shrimp mixed with a little Chroma Plex. I defrost the food with some tank water, add a few drops of Chroma Plex then pour some into the cup. It grabs the meaty peices with out a problem but doesn't close compleatly around it (like part of the shrimp body is sticking out). I assume it is eating because I have had it for a few months and it is now plump and growing new little polyps.

I picked it up as a frag one day at Jeff's Exotic fish. It was under the grate of one of their coral holding tanks. The guy gave it to me for a few bucks but it looked so bad I didn't expect it to live, now it seems to be growing. I just need to figure out how to feed it without over feeding my tank.

 

[danmhippo]

This coral are originated from turbid area of reef. Currents bringing them constant flow of food. Unless you want your tank to snow with food scraps, you'd have to keep doing what you were indefinately.

Many lacks your knowledge of this coral and killed them in captivity. Even LFS (such as Jeff's) does not have the patience to feed them like you.

 

[wwinters]

I don't mind feeding them this way, it is easyier than trying to squirt food to them with a turkey baster then fighting off my clowns and hermit crabs.

I am afraid if I don't give them enough time in the cup then they will starve but if I leave them too long they might die from sitting in the dirty water with no water flow.

Is 10 min. enough or maybe 20 or should I be giving them more time than that to eat their dinner. How long is safe to leave the coral in the feeding cup out of the tank?

 

[MaryHM]

Keep in mind that these corals sit in bags of water with no flow for 24+ hours during shipping. 20 minutes isn't that big of a deal.

 

[Expos Forever]

I just wanted to say that you should be commended for taking the time and patience to ensure your coral is feeding well. Any pics? If fish/hermit theft is the problem is placing your coral in the sump for feedings a possibility? That would at least solve water quality/flow concerns.

 

[Bristleworm]

I keep a sun coral as well. I keep mine on the sand bed, and use the top of a large soft drink bottle as a "feeding hat". Every two or three days, I put the "hat" over top of the coral, and use a turkey baster to squirt a little bit of seafood mulch into the top. The smell of the first squirt causes the coral to open up over about 15 min, then I squirt in the rest. I let the coral eat for about 15 minutes, remove the hat, and let the shrimp, hermits etc. move in to clean up any leftovers. This system works really well for me. It's a bit of a PITA, but worth it as this coral is brilliant looking. BTW, keeping the coral on the sand bed makes it much easier to put the "hat" on. I've read reports about this coral needing shade etc., but have had no problems keeping it out in the open. In my opinion, if it is non-photosythetic, then it shouldn't care if it has light or not.

 

[Joey French]

I tried the feeding hat method as well, but hermit theft was still a problem. I have since removed the hermits, and as a result, have to now take the coral out 2x a week as well. I am trying to nurse a food deprived tubestraea back to health after saving it from a lfs tank, I'm sure it was once a beautiful specimen, but when I got him he looked like crap.
What does you guys' look like, and how marked is its'appearance compared with feeding? The reason I ask is because mine has a small amount of growth on the very ends of the feeding polyp which gives it good feeding extension, but the tissue between the polyps is totally disintegrated, no pink at all, where this species I have appears to have had some at one point. From your experience, how long before it starts to fill in? I have had it about 3 months, btw.
In response to the original question, I have noticed no ill effects from leaving the coral in a bowl for 10-20 minutes at a time during feedings.
Joey

 

[reefland]

How long does it take the coral to open when you place it into the feeding container? Have any pictures of the coral feeding in the container?

 

[wwinters]

I put the coral in the cup the afternoon before. The coral usually starts to open up about an hour before the lights go out. I take the cup out of the tank a half an hour or so after lights out. The polyps are extended by then and stay open when I remove it. All I do is pour the food in the cup and the arms grab a bunch.

I feed again Wednesday night I will try to take a few pictures then.

Joey French- Mine looked really bad when I picked it up a few months ago. Some plumped up after a few weeks others still look sunken in but seem to be feeding so I hope they just need more TLC.