Hi all, is this normal behavior my dendro hasn’t opened up in a few days now I see these pieces around the head. Any suggestions? Is it a pest? Params are all fine other corals are fine as well.
Due to them being Non-photosynthetic it will rarely be open durring the day. It is possible, as i had success, to train them overtime to feed during daylight.
I found the best places were in half shadow, lowest light possible. (Hard to hide that orange ;) )
Overhangs are ideal. etc. Low/medium flow.
If u spot check an hour after the lights go out with a flashlight or whatever, they should be fully open by instinct at night. They catch pods etc.. i used to feed mine asterinas i plucked off the glass. They are garbage disposals by design. Keep them fed, Reef chili/Roids and defrosted Frozen rotifers are perfect when they are younger and small. As they grow, upgrade to medium pellets and defrosted frozem Mysis shrimp. I emphasize defrosted, they will retract if they feel a cold touch.
Be aware your CUC, shrimp and crabs especially, will gut them if u dont protect them while they digest. All my fish would try to steal food from them if i fed durring the day.
I combatted this by using the vinegar/rodi cleaned 2 liter soda bottle. Drill 1/4" holes around the bottom, cut it half way up, ensuring no glue residue is present from the label, and flip it over them after u feed. Remove after 30 mins or so. That should protect them well enough.
Any other questions please pm me or ask here. Good luck, heres some shots of mine over the 2 years i kept them.
Keep in mind these are fathead dendrophyllia. U may not end ip with adult polyps like u see in the picture with the yellow tang. That yt is 4" in that pic for reference.
