[sihaya]

I'm just sick over this... one of my favorite corals, affectionately named Aethra, (illicit mortal lover of the greek god Poseidon) is in mortal peril. It's a faviidae of some kind (I've tried to ID it more specifically, but I don't want to embarass myself by saying anymore about it).

Anyway... I was holding it by the base trying to figure out what this critter on it was. The cursed little spawn of satan "jumped" out and pinched me. Of course I screamed and dropped the coral. Unfortunately I had been standing over a bucket of 50/50 water and vinegar in which I was soaking some coralline encrusted powerheads. I pulled it out and rinsed it in the tank water almost immediately (like... all within 2-3 seconds). It mucused up pretty bad, but it's stopped now. And it's deeply retracted. I can see even see all the white septa it's so bad. But as far as I can tell, it hasn't lost any tissue yet. The polyps all still have thier "mouths" and everything. But it's just not looking good. I've never seen it this "unhappy." It just looks so awful.

So I'm on the verge of tears here. I don't know if it's going to make it. And I don't even know what I can do to help. Do I feed it more? Or would that just make it worse? It's already in a moderate-flow area... would more current help? I have no idea. I mean, it's essentually suffered a chemical burn, right? Ugh, it's so awful to think of it like that! I feel so bad.

[sihaya]

I don't have an "after" picture yet (it's dark now)... but in the picture of my tank here:

Pic of my tank

It's the one on the sand in front towards the left of the picture. It's so much prettier in real life though. Since I've had it, the polyps developed a flourescent blue color that's just amazing. I'd be so sad to lose it now.

It's also the home coral to this vermitid snail (which has survived btw... so have the parasitic crab/shrimp things no one really knows much about):

http://forum.marinedepot.com/Topic33926-11-1.aspx

Should the survival of the critters give me any hope for the coral? I know the crab/shrimp things were pretty pissed and crawled half way out of their holes after it happened... but they're still alive and ok now (so it seems).

[Poseidon]

Well.... Put it back where it was, I think returning it to "normal" is the best you can do at this point. In this case I think it best to let nature do her thing and see what happens, rather then risk further irritation.

BTW I really hope my lover recovers to her beautiful self!

[sihaya]

Oh.... hahaha... I didn't even make the connection to your username! How funny!

Edit: I should probably be more prudent in my representation of mythology... there's some controversy over if Aethrea and Posiedon were really lovers in any traditional sense (confusion of some names and words in language back then). The story basically was that she waded out into the water, captivated by the ocean. The confusion is over what happened after that... if Posiedon did as only a god could do, and had her without her even knowing. Or, if she knew he was there and intended to make love to the sea and him in one enamorous gesture. I wrote a short poem about it once too...

Waves know not whom they caress
Of lovers they know even less
How then do they move me to this?
All of me beseeching their sultry kiss.

Either way the story goes, don't you just love Greek Mythology? It's so dark and beautiful and surreal... I swear it's the only religion that makes any sense.

Unfortunately, it doesn't help my poor coral though...

So thanks for the advice. That's all I'm doing right now. But it just doesn't look good. I'll take a picture tomorrow morning. I hope it looks better by then.

[sihaya]

Btw... though off topic, why did you pick Posiedon and not his father-in-law Nereus? Do you like to cause trouble? Or do you just like Posiedon's wife... the enchanting sea nymth Amphitrite?

I've been wanting to name something in my tank Nereus, but nothing seems to really fit. The dwarf lion comes the closest, but still not quite...

Posiedon is the name of my bubble coral by the way... and Amphitrite the name of my Acanthastrea. And Medusa is the green faviidae in the lower right name corner.

[Ninong]

I have a Centropyge bispinosa that I named Bacchus. I probably should have named him Dionysus because Centropyge is Greek.

I named my Siganus vulpinus Primus, because he was my first fish and I named my Pseudochromis fridmani Comus because he has a mask.

[smidoid]

Originally Posted by sihaya

Oh.... hahaha... I didn't even make the connection to your username! How funny!

I saw it straight away before I even read that Mike was in the thread. Had me

Oh my mind. I guess it's called thinking outside the tank.

[kevinpo]

Your coral appears to be a Favia sp. and they are quite hardy. I have seen half eaten ones recover quckly. I believe it will fine in a week or so.

HTH,
Kevin

[sihaya]

Thanks Kevin... I don't know what exactly it is. The teeth on the septa seem huge to me, but I'm pretty bad with IDing. So I'm not even sure if that should tell me anything.

It's still looking pretty bad unfortunately. I'll try to take a picture of it later...

[Poseidon]

Originally Posted by sihaya

Btw... though off topic, why did you pick Posiedon and not his father-in-law Nereus? Do you like to cause trouble? Or do you just like Posiedon's wife... the enchanting sea nymth Amphitrite?

I've been wanting to name something in my tank Nereus, but nothing seems to really fit. The dwarf lion comes the closest, but still not quite...

Posiedon is the name of my bubble coral by the way... and Amphitrite the name of my Acanthastrea. And Medusa is the green faviidae in the lower right name corner.

Well.... Actually when I picked my username I didn't know much about Poseidon other then he was "god of the sea". Now you have me researching him much more, and well... he was... well kinda an a$$ huh? Maybe I should change my name. (gasp! the confusion that would cause!) Although having so MANY women around to have kids with... Hmmm that sounds like FUN!

[sihaya]

Well... don't be too hard on the guy. As far as gods go, he wasn't that bad. But he was more the young, virile god of the stormy seas than the wise, respected "old man of the sea" type god which was Nereus.

[Poseidon]

Oh... well in that case I'll be Poseidon until I retire from work! I am only 33!

[sihaya]

lol... good plan. 33 is too young to be a Nereus. ;-)


But geez, Mike, this just blows! I haven't killed a coral since... well, september of last year. Which is a long time considering I started all this only about 16 months ago. And what a stupid thing to do. I should have known better than to not hold it over the tank.

I don't even want to take a picture of it... it's just too sad. It's still alive, but it's just painful to look at. I just can't believe how one moment it was the beautiful healthy, perfect coral... and now it looks like... well, like it was dropped in acid.

[Poseidon]

I feel for you Sara, I killed my favorite corals in my last move. I let the temp drop to much and lost an A. Milliapora, and my A. Yongei that Gene sent me. On that same move most of my other Acro's looked pitiful, especially my Stylophora, it has since recovered quite nicely, and is starting to re-encrust (is that a word?) the parts that died off. I can't say I have ever acid dipped a coral, but these creatures have amazing regenerative capacity. I am confident that if you keep the coral in a stable environment and let it be, my lover will be back to her beautiful self in no time! (Well maybe a couple months. )

[BubbaWPB]

sihaya,
I'm sorry to hear about your coral and your demon bite. Please keep us posted on the recovery of both victims.

I have learned most of my most valuable lessons at the "School of Hard Knocks.":slap: The school has advanced courses in Reefkeeping, by the way. One of the precautions I learned (by one of many of my reefkeeping disasters) is to do all acid washing (even if it is vinegar) outside.

Off the topic of acid washing, but another course I've just completed is - "Very Uncomfortable Inflamatory Skin Reactions Caused by Handling Aquarium Contents Without Wearing Gloves." Oral benadryl and topical steroids take several eons to work under those conditions.:slap: Thankfully, I didn't take the 600 level course in Mycobactera murium ("yet" - sometimes I'm a slow learner). :::Insert smile icon wearing the dunce cap here. :::

[sihaya]

Haha... well, this is one reason I married a doctor. Seriously, I'm such a kluts I practically need full time medical supervision.

Thanks Mike. This morning I'm starting to believe it coral might actually recover. The tissue is hanging in there (I think).

And yeah, moving sounds like a nightmare. That's why I won't leave my apartment.

[Poseidon]

Moving is a SERIOUS PITA! Even as I am setting up a basement sump I am contemplating yet another move... This time would be to get into a better school district for my kids. I really like my house, and I like the neighborhood too, but the school district sucks, and my car insurance went up almost $100 a MONTH!

Just be patient on your coral, and let it recover on its own. I am sure being in good quality water, with lots of flow and food will speed its recovery along. Oh and keep the vinegar in another room, I am sure that will help too!

[sihaya]

Ok, I finally broke down and took a picture:


It just looks painful, doesn't it?

[smidoid]

Moving house? ARGH! I won't even move room without a fight. I got turfed out when my youngest daughter arrived.

Seriously though, Sara. I really do hope your coral comes back. If I was religious, I'd pray for it, but as it is I'm rooting for you both. Hope all turns out well.

[kevinpo]

Ouch! it's hard to tell from the picture but I would try a little more flow on it and see if some of the debris comes off. I still think there is a chance for recovery. Are you seeing any tentacle extension at night?

Regards,
Kevin