Orange cup coral won't open

[Marella]

Just recently added an orange cup coral and have been trying to get it to open up to feed. I have tried isolating it in the tank and in a separate container while feeding it mysis. Last night it started to puff up and I could make out a few tentacles emerging, but this morning it was all retracted again. I know that once the tentacles are extended, feeding it will be easy. So I'm looking for ideas as to how to get it to extend the tentacles.

[xtopher]

could you please post a pic, as a cup coral is not what you described (Common names can get cofusing) this will help us identify what you're talking about as well as help

[JennM]

If it's a sun coral or Turbinaria sp. they typically only open after dark, but they can be conditioned or "trained" to open during the day. Try to observe it in the dark and see if it opens then. If it does, feed it then. You can move the feeding time a bit earlier each time and eventually it will "learn" to open during the daytime.

Sometimes it takes a while to get it to feed during daylight, but it can be done.

HTH

Jenn

[Marella]

Thanks. It is a Turbinaria sp. and it did look like it was starting to open when the lights were out.

[JennM]

Chances are it opens fully sometime overnight - when you aren't looking It may be necessary to do some middle-of-the-night feeding at first, but like I said, once you understand its schedule, you can encourage it to conform to yours

HTH

Jenn