Just fed my corals for the first time. Crazy.

[spaulr]

I've had a FOWLR for 13 years and this is my first foray into the coral and reef tank world. I currently have a 40 with 4 stoney corals. 1 small candycane (2 polyps 1" each), 1 5 inch lobophyllia, and 2 sps corals. I've seen the candy cane extending its polyps almost immediately after the lights went off. It hadn't been looking so hot (at the LFS either) since I got it. So, I decided to squirt some mysis at the tenticles. Whoa, that thing was hungry!! It closed up in a second or two and was back open in a couple minutes. I guess the food and scent in the water made the lobo tenticles come out. So I gave it a little too. Man I hope my fish stay the hell away from it now!!! My girlfriend said she's staying the hell away from those things now. :lol:

I guess this leads into a question. I've never seen it stated that either the candy cane or lobo require feedings doe to zoanthelle, but don't the tenticles suggest otherwise? Do most people feed their corals - and if so what? Do you also feed your SPS and how do you know if they like it?

Anyone else with a crazy JAWS coral story?

All I can say it uttery fascinating.

 

[Anonymous]

All corals eat food, the algae inside them produce sugars via photosynthesis that gets 98% of the food needed to simply survive, now you might think only 2% no biggy.. but that 98% is just survival, if you want healing, growth, etc you need to make sure food is available. Now typically our tanks our dirty enough that many types of corals have plenty of food, however as you found out the candy cane & lobo have tenticles which do eat meaty foods.

So by all means feed them! However I wouldn't feed them more than once in any given night.

 

[Anonymous]

All corals eat food, the algae inside them produce sugars via photosynthesis that gets 98% of the food needed to simply survive, now you might think only 2% no biggy.. but that 98% is just survival, if you want healing, growth, etc you need to make sure food is available. Now typically our tanks our dirty enough that many types of corals have plenty of food, however as you found out the candy cane & lobo have tenticles which do eat meaty foods.

So by all means feed them! However I wouldn't feed them more than once in any given night.

98% Mark? Most studies I've seen are down around 80% or so. Got a link?

 

[Anonymous]

Mark? GAH!

Link, I'll search for one later if I get the time, I hate searching on this laptop.

I thought I recall hearing that number directly from your boss, however being as you see him much more often that I, I'll conceed your number is probably closer until I find evidence to the contrary

 

[spaulr]

So what do you recommed feeding them? I just fed mysis, but is that what they typically eat? And how often - 2-3x a week? Most books(Sprug series) I've read don't discuss this topic too much.