sickly cabbage

[cath]

What's the deal with cabbage coral? Can they get into a snit like my Colt does sometimes? This cabbage was mayb 5 inches across and lookn good, and the other day it started to shrink, and now it's a pathetic 2 1/2".

[tdwyatt]

Originally posted by cath
What's the deal with cabbage coral?

The same thing that Real Estate preys on: LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION!

Poor circulation in the corner along with inadequate lighting will have this effect on cabage leathers, although most will survive these conditions and do ok. I would suggest long-term that this specimen be moved closer to the center of the bulb length where it will also get better circulation (looks to be in a corner right now). Many of these will do ok in a corner, but this particular one came from a high light location with moderate circulation (if this is the one from my prop system). Occasionally they will just do this anyway, but if you have one of the potential coralivore worms in the tank, this will affect the appearance in much the same way. Look around the base to see if you find any small flatworms that will be the same color as the coral (very difficult to distinguish from the coral tissue). Afew other possibilities, but I am willing to bet that a move will improve the coral tremendously...

...but then again, sometimes they just do that...

[RWD]

Looks like it's got some sediment on it. Maybe that is irritating it. IME cabbage corals sometimes close up and shed a waxy "skin" only to reopen in a week. Bob

[Mickadee]

mine does this all the time just to open up twice as big afterwards.mine has stayed clsed like this for up to 2 weeks before reopening. the silt on the coral isnt good turkey baster it off and it will help. do you have some sort of sand sifter that is dropping sediment on the coral? I would move it off the bottom of the tank if you can it will keep down on the silt on it.
HTH
Mike

[Mickadee]

Ment to add a pic to the post (oops)
this one has doubled its size I got it as a double frag preattached to a rock it has thrown out a lot of different pedals off the sides also. is on the top of the rock pile under 220 pc with indirect current blowing on it.
Mike

[cath]

Thanks guys. I had read conflicting information about placement in the tank. That's why I decided to put this question out there.

What to feed this guy?

[Mickadee]

I use dts along with a micorvert food in the colum it doesnt seem to respond to them though I really havent found anything that it will retract it polyps on so I dont know if it really its or a majority of its nutrition is from the lighting. sorry I couldnt help more on that.
Mike

[Alice]

No need to feed it directly Cath. It will feed on particulate in the water column but if you feed DT's once in awhile it might appreciate it. No reason to go out and buy it though just for this coral.

Alice