Plate coral dead?

[ellarose]

Hey guys, Recently got this plate coral about a month ago my first time with one. Isn’t looking too good still has flesh but a lot is disappearing i only just found out i am meant to feed it. i have also attempted to remove the algae from it. is it too late to save it :(

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I never feed my plate and I've had mine for about 4 years, so I truly doubt its the lack of feeding that did this, corals primarily get their nutrients from the light and water column.

Cannot tell with this blue picture, can you please turn the blue light off and leave only white lights for pics? Its hard to see, but it looks like it still has shape and some color, as long as it has color or some flesh, I would not throw it out. Plate corals are known to sprout new plates even after being long dead themselves, so even if your plate does die, leave the skeleton in the tank.

 

[mtfish]

I know personally that a "dead" plate coral can make a bunch of "pups". I have one plate that took almost a year, but now has a "baby" pop up on the skeleton. They really do better getting solid foods. Good luck.

 

[redacted_]

I know personally that a "dead" plate coral can make a bunch of "pups". I have one plate that took almost a year, but now has a "baby" pop up on the skeleton. They really do better getting solid foods. Good luck.

+1 Don't throw this one out. I had a tiny one that I thought died but kept it as live rock (rubble really), ended up paying dividends though. Something similar happened to an Acanthophyllia I had too and I've seen it happen in Scolymia. This has been reported in Porites in the wild and is called the Phoenix effect in academic literature.

 

[thamnasteroid]

It's prolly not your fault; Long tentacle plates tend to not do well in aquaria.

 

[ellarose]

I never feed my plate and I've had mine for about 4 years, so I truly doubt its the lack of feeding that did this, corals primarily get their nutrients from the light and water column.

Cannot tell with this blue picture, can you please turn the blue light off and leave only white lights for pics? Its hard to see, but it looks like it still has shape and some color, as long as it has color or some flesh, I would not throw it out. Plate corals are known to sprout new plates even after being long dead themselves, so even if your plate does die, leave the skeleton in the tank.

Here’s a better photo under white light

 

[ellarose]

It's prolly not your fault; Long tentacle plates tend to not do well in aquaria.

everything else in my tank is thriving sadly this one is not :(

 

[ellarose]

I know personally that a "dead" plate coral can make a bunch of "pups". I have one plate that took almost a year, but now has a "baby" pop up on the skeleton. They really do better getting solid foods. Good luck.

i attempted feeding it frozen shrimp i feed my anemone it did hold onto the food but not sure if it actually ate it though, Could it need more flow it gets low flow?

 

[ellarose]

It's prolly not your fault; Long tentacle plates tend to not do well in aquaria.

everything else in my tank is thriving sadly not this one :(

 

[ellarose]

I never feed my plate and I've had mine for about 4 years, so I truly doubt its the lack of feeding that did this, corals primarily get their nutrients from the light and water column.

Cannot tell with this blue picture, can you please turn the blue light off and leave only white lights for pics? Its hard to see, but it looks like it still has shape and some color, as long as it has color or some flesh, I would not throw it out. Plate corals are known to sprout new plates even after being long dead themselves, so even if your plate does die, leave the skeleton in the tank.

 

[bluemon]

Never had much luck with plate corals.

Especially when placed on the sandbed.

They do better on flat surfaces or bigger rubble as the sand can irritate and tear int their skin

@VintageReefer should have some good examples

 

[VintageReefer]

While some have success on the sand, my results and experience always result in plate death.

Maybe it has to do with the type of sand we use and some tanks have fine / soft vs coarse sand in others and that has an impact?

 

[ellarose]

While some have success on the sand, my results and experience always result in plate death.

Maybe it has to do with the type of sand we use and some tanks have fine / soft vs coarse sand in others and that has an impact?

i’ll try remove it and place on rock work, that’s super annoying as i was advised by my shop that it likes the sand

 

[Kasrift]

Never had much luck with plate corals.

Especially when placed on the sandbed.

They do better on flat surfaces or bigger rubble as the sand can irritate and tear int their skin

@VintageReefer should have some good examples

I have a heliofungia on a media plate on the sand for that exact reason. You can't see the tile when it is fully extended.

 

[BryanM]

Is there any color left, or is it just skeleton? Can you see its mouth?

If either are yes, then I'd say it isn't dead, but it obviously isn't happy.

If either are yes, I'd target feed small amounts of food 2-3x a week.... It is true they do not need it, but I personally feel it helps.