long tentacle plate coral

[cowfish]

I just got a long tentacle plate coral. And on liveaquaria it says to put it on the sand. I have it on the sand but can it be placed on the rocks?

[hawks]

cowfish, good luck with the plate. They are really neat but I couldn't get mine to live very long. I think they need to be on the sand only. I'm sure the experts will chime in.

[cowfish]

liveaquaria said they were easy to take care of so i went ahead and got one from the lfs.

[jab502]

I have had one in my tank for about 2 months and it is doing just fine. Seems easy to care for. I was told by an expert who gives me advice that it would do just fine on a rock but I had to make sure that it never fell off, as that could damage the plate and kill the coral. He told me to put it on a very large flat rock to make sure it was never spilled. If you have the right rock placement it should be fine there. If not I would put it in the sand.

[BLEEZY]

in nature they are found on either a bed of soft substrate like oolitic sand or on coral rubble, not a mix of. i am sure it could live on the rocks, but it would be much happier and healthier on the sand.

[cowfish]

also do clownfish host this coral i have seen pictures and most of them have clownfish in them?

[LISound]

mine is on a flat rock 1/2 way up the tank.
he's doing just fine...getting too large!
He once got chomped up by a rogue crab but healed and is still growing.

Just mak sure you place him some place flat.
Mine likes the light and loves to eat.

[tdwyatt]

They can move,...


a lot.


If they fall off the rock, the cuts to the coenosarc due to the sharp septa pushing through the tissue often lead to loss of the specimen, not to mention their poor survivabiity beyound 6 months (the time it takes to use up their stored nutritional reserves).

http://thereeftank.com/forums/http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/f6/long-tentacle-plate-questions-83987.html

Much better to get a Fungia spp rather than Heliofungia, should not be a recommended species, check the survivability numbers out at the MAC site...

[LISound]

Tom,
mine is pretty big but never moves...is he just lazy or does it really like where it's placed.

I'd like to frag him soon as well but that's another thread for another time.

[tdwyatt]

Originally Posted by LISound

Tom,
mine is pretty big but never moves...is he just lazy or does it really like where it's placed.

I hope it is because it is happy, adequately fed, and flourishing, however, they stop moving when their nutritional status falls off as well. Carefully observe for the appearance of the oral opening, if it starts to look like it stays open all the time, or starts gapping open for extended periods so that it is easy to see the septa, then the specimen may be on its way out.

How old is your specimen? do you feed it, if so, what and how much nd how often?

[cowfish]

I just got him last wednesday. i dont really feed the corals they seem to do fine , but i should feed them so they would be more healthy