Reviving Chalices

Chelsey · Nov 30, 2007

I got a tiny piece of what used to be a watermelon chalice (real deal) today. It has maybe two "eyes" left and is in pretty bad shape. Does anyone have any tips for reviving it? I feed the tank Rod's food at least once daily, and I'm planning on spot feeding it if the feeding tentacles come out, but how should I entice it to extend the tentacles?

Hypertek99 · Nov 30, 2007

The tentacles usually get the longest after lights out. Wait like 30mins after the lights go out and check it out the tentacles should be super long.

currentking · Nov 30, 2007

watermelon chalice has tenticles? I have a reddish purple one and the eyes have mouths that you feed

Hypertek99 · Nov 30, 2007

Yup and the tentacles are what pulls the food in. The tentacles are usually clear looking.

Chelsey · Nov 30, 2007

Will it put out its tentacles even if it is "emaciated"?

anomie · Dec 1, 2007

FWIW, I picked up a great frag of it 2 months ago. I spoil this chalice. I take it out of the tank 3-4 times a week and spot feed. I put it in a bowl and hold a frozen bar of cyclopeeze right over the mouth so that when it melts it land on the mouth. Within 5 minutes, it eats and then I put it back in the tank. I've gotten great growth doing it this way... now have 2 mouths and it has grown 1/4 inch all around. But this was with a healthy peice to start with. I'd leave it alone in the tank for a week or two to get adjusted and acclimated and then worry about spot feeding....sounds stressed already. Good luck. :)

currentking · Dec 1, 2007

shoot, i guess I should do the same. I feed all of my corals in my tank. I guess thats why I have nitrates.

Chelsey · Dec 1, 2007

I have no problem whatsoever spoiling this thing, but in order for it to eat it's gotta throw out some tentacles! I waited around for two hours after the lights went out last night and put cyclopeeze in the tank but I never saw any feeders come out :(

anomie · Dec 1, 2007

Current King, I feed all of my LPSs that need targeted feeding outside of the tank. When I do, I completely submerge the container and put the corals in while it's submerged so that I don't make them grumpy. Sometimes I use reef chili or the like to get them to put out their tenticales and then I place mysis on each mouth with tweezers. Been working pretty well. :)

Chelsey, try it in a bowl.

currentking · Dec 1, 2007

I have all LPS's so if I had to take out all of them to target feed, it would take hours.. I guess thats what I need to do if I want to lower my nitrates

Chelsey · Dec 2, 2007

Well, I put the tiny frag in a cup with some frozen cyclopeeze and I think it ate about 2 shrimps :( As long as there is at least one mouth there's hope of me being able to revive it, right?