Reviving Chalices

[Chelsey]

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]

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]

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

 

[Hypertek99]

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

 

[Chelsey]

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

 

[anomie]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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?

 

[Hypertek99]

Yep one mouth is good enough. Did the feeding tentacles come out when you fed the cyclopeeze???

 

[Chelsey]

No, it just so happened that two pieces of shrimp landed in the mouths :(