Orange Sun Coral,Tubastrea.Feeding.

[Steve McKay]

I have some Orange Sun Coral,Tubastrea.They didn't open and after a week
I gave up on them.I used the two"frag to prop up my coco worm.About a
month later it looked like they might have opened.So I moved them out where
I could see them,they were open.I put them in a cave where they are shaded
and I can view them.I squirt them with formula one and agitate the substrate
up current of them they seem to like that.How do I feed them larger items
like brine and mysis shrimp without polluting tank.I don't want to turn my
filters off and can't reach them directly.The flow will carry brine or mysis away.

[lionman1006]

sun coral are usually filter feeders and i dont believe they will be able to take brine shrimp, or mysis. I would try getting some DT phytoplankton i have had really good luck with this stuff at our store. usually feed once or twice a week with a type of phytoplankton, kent make some called zooplex that works nicely also. eventually you might be able to pull the coral out into direct light where you can get to them a little easier

[ricksreef]

no stony coral eats phyto, they're carnivores.
for sun corals, feed a little frozen cyclopeeze to the tank. the smell should have your sun coral open within 15 minutes or so and then you can target feed mysis right to them with a turkey baster.

[lionman1006]

awesome, sorry bout that looked at the post wrong...thought it said sun polyps

[ricksreef]

not to pile on you, but they eat meaty mysis too. ;)

mine will eat half a cube if I (and my tangs) let them.

[lionman1006]

lol yea i just looked up the wrong stuff i just found this a min. ago. actually found step by step instructions..Feeding - Each polyp on a Tubastrea head is an individual, so each and every polyp will need to be fed. Since the coral is not photosynthetic it does not make its own food and it does not have any zooxanthalae (symbiotic algae used by photosynthetic corals as a food source) within its flesh.

Use a turkey baster, glass or stainless steel if possible, and suck out enough tank water to fill a small glass half way.

Drop in a cube of quality frozen marine food that contains brine shrimp, krill, chopped clam, chopped scallop, chopped muscles, chopped silversides, or any other non-oily meaty seafood in small pieces.

Let the food thaw in the glass of water and mix it up. Add another turkey baster full of water to the glass and mix it up.

Suck out a turkey baster full of the water from the glass but make sure there isn't a lot of food particles in it, just the water with a "flavoring" of the food.

Squirt the turkey baster over the Tubastrea to "wake up" the polyps.

Once the polyps are open fully (about 5 minutes) squirt all the remaining food/water mix in the glass over each and every polyp. Be sure every polyp eats. You will know they have eaten when the polyp retracts.
How to Care for Tubastrea Coral | eHow.com

[Steve McKay]

Thanks for the info.

[Ninong]

Hi Steve McKay,




I think ricksreef has already answered your questions. Just remember that this coral naturally feeds at night, which is probably why you never saw the polyps open. You can train it to feed during the 'daytime' by squirting some food or water containing the scent of food over the polyps to get them to open up. Then you have to feed each polyp separately with just about any of the various marine foods for carnivores.

Placing them in a shaded area of the tank to begin with will replicate their natural environment but they can be moved later to an area that receives direct light. The only reason they are found inside caves and under overhangs in their natural environment is because that's the only places where they can find open real estate to set up shop.

Bottom line: they are naturally nocturnal but can be trained to open in the 'daytime.' They are not photosynthetic and must be fed meaty items regularly -- preferably daily. Each polyp must be fed separately. Use a small turkey baster or a large syringe fitted with a large opening.

Good luck!