CrazyCatMan
New Member
I have an acanthophyllia that has baffled me since day one as it is quite different than the other two I have although they were purchased in an already healthy state. I was hoping someone with in depth knowledge about these corals could provide some information as the local fish stores arent very helpful unless it involves selling something.
I purchased the coral roughly 12 months ago in pretty poor shape. The skeleton was roughly 2" in diameter, 3" tall, looked like a chic fil-a waffle fry and there was only ~ 3/8" of tissue around the top of the skeleton apart from the mouth area. Over time the coral has regained its health and has grown tremendously which is what has brought me here. Although its somewhat recent I have attached a pic that should give a good idea of what the skeleton is like. When retracted I can clearly see what looks to be like a white tissue in the center [rough idea of how open the holes are]. Overall the condition of the skeleton isnt my concern, but I am curious as to why it is like that.
Along with growing and becoming healthy the tissue/poly/whatever it would be referred to as is now touching the sandbed (attached pic).
This is where the confusion begins.
1. I have started to wonder if I should make an area of deep sand to put the coral in so the polyp can lay out and expand on the sandbed as the other acanthophyllias I have do rather than flapping in the wind.
2. Given the holes in the skeleton would the above even be feasible? It seems to me that the sand would simply fill the voids in the skeleton and irritate the part of the coral that is inside the center.
3. One other odd thing I noticed is that starting with day 1 of bringing the coral home it had a ferocious appetite and would put out its feeding tenacles at the first sign of any food in the tank. Along with being able to eat MUCH faster than the others. Over the last couple of months I have noticed that its appetite has slowed and it no longer has any feeding tentacles. I attached two pics of this, as you can see it is taking in a piece of krill but has no tentacles. I can simply lay food near is mouth and it takes it right in no problem. This seemed pretty weird.
Thank You
I purchased the coral roughly 12 months ago in pretty poor shape. The skeleton was roughly 2" in diameter, 3" tall, looked like a chic fil-a waffle fry and there was only ~ 3/8" of tissue around the top of the skeleton apart from the mouth area. Over time the coral has regained its health and has grown tremendously which is what has brought me here. Although its somewhat recent I have attached a pic that should give a good idea of what the skeleton is like. When retracted I can clearly see what looks to be like a white tissue in the center [rough idea of how open the holes are]. Overall the condition of the skeleton isnt my concern, but I am curious as to why it is like that.
Along with growing and becoming healthy the tissue/poly/whatever it would be referred to as is now touching the sandbed (attached pic).
This is where the confusion begins.
1. I have started to wonder if I should make an area of deep sand to put the coral in so the polyp can lay out and expand on the sandbed as the other acanthophyllias I have do rather than flapping in the wind.
2. Given the holes in the skeleton would the above even be feasible? It seems to me that the sand would simply fill the voids in the skeleton and irritate the part of the coral that is inside the center.
3. One other odd thing I noticed is that starting with day 1 of bringing the coral home it had a ferocious appetite and would put out its feeding tenacles at the first sign of any food in the tank. Along with being able to eat MUCH faster than the others. Over the last couple of months I have noticed that its appetite has slowed and it no longer has any feeding tentacles. I attached two pics of this, as you can see it is taking in a piece of krill but has no tentacles. I can simply lay food near is mouth and it takes it right in no problem. This seemed pretty weird.
Thank You
