elegance coral success?

[R1Bill]

Has anyone had long term success with elegance corals before I get one?

Thanks,

Bill

[RWD]

I bought one a long time ago, like 8-9 years ago and had it up until this spring. It did great until another coral fell on top of it. Brown jelly set in and that was it :-( From what I read the ones being sold in tha last few years have not had a good record. I hope to get another soon to replace it. Bob

[Mrs Smith]

Ours survived for a little over a year, but certainly didn't thrive. Just thought I'd clarify that.

I've seen them at the LFS occasionally lately - and I'm still not hearing success stories.

It's a risky deal - and I probably won't ever get another.

Danielle

[R1Bill]

They have beautiful ones at the LFS all the time but I have not seen or heard of anyone recently having one last past 6 months. 6 weeks seems common for the brown jelly to set in. And, nobody seems to have a clue why either. Of course the owner of the LFS says "no problem, they'll last forever in your tank"

Bill

[MontanaRocknReefer]

I have always wanted to purchase one but have never done so! I heard the horror stories as well. Some say it is the way they are collected but who knows for sure!

By the way, anyone had luck with fox coral? I think they are beautiful as well but it seems like in the LFS I see skeletons all the time along with some hammers as well. Any luck with these two corals anyone? Thanks, Johnny

[RWD]

Here's a picture of it before it croaked:

[MontanaRocknReefer]

Wow! RWD! That was a beautiful coral. I can see why we want them in our tanks!!

[R1Bill]

Wow Bob! That really is too bad :-((((

[reiple]

Too bad. What a beautiful specimen that was.

I have elegance corals since I started around 2 years ago. Still alive and thriving but a near alk disaster almost killed one.

here's the two year old specimen. There's a third small 2-3 month old specimen not shown.

[MontanaRocknReefer]

Hey reiple! Your elegance is awesome as well! Very, very beautiful!

[R1Bill]

those are really nice! you go diving and pick them yourself?

[Imaexpat2]

Bummer Guys, it dont look too good for the home team. Unfortunately, I guess, I just bought one about 3 weeks ago. Wasnt planning to get one but this particular one was just beyond words gorgous. Couldnt pass it up. Looking at the poll results...there seems to be a good number that were sucessful for a good period of time. Whats the trick to "breaking the code" here? This one is just too increadible to lose!!!

**Please help the computer illiterate...How do you attach a pic to this thing?

[Mrs Smith]

I wonder if the ones surviving for more than 5 years were collected prior to the "new collecting styles" that may be the culprit...

[reiple]

MontanaRocknReefer - thanks. my satisfaction is their well being!

R1Bill - I really wish I could dive. I'm the classic land lubber. I even nearly drowned in a 5 feet pool (I'm 5'9"! stoopid me...hehehe)

Mrs Smith - could be. Bad news is I'm told they were collecting in deeper waters now. Before Elegance (and many other corals) were collected in as shallow as 5-10 feet. Nowadays they go 50-100. Not good, eh?

Before Julian Sprung posted the cause was disease related and easily cured by antibiotics. But how and where does the disease come from?

Just theory --- Elegance Corals are sold by ton loads here in the Philippines and reefers here report success with it (more so than with acropora, montipora and clams. lack of good lighting equipment). Just maybe the Elegance Corals sold in the US might be coming elsewhere and this "pathogen" carried with them? JMT, JMO (just my theory, just my opinion)

[R1Bill]

Judging from the lack of responses it sure seems like not too many folks on this list are trying these beautiful corals!

Bill