Sun Coral or Dendro Colony

[MrPicasso]

The LFS had black sun polyps the other day when I picked this up, but only about 6 heads per colony. Surprisingly those were 79 bucks

 

[Paul C.]

I have a "common" orange sun coral that retracts during the day. However I also have a black "dendro" that has stalks like the pictures above that do no retract that house full blooms of "feelers" that open when feedings either day or night. It look just like the pictures above when not open.

 

[MrPicasso]

Can you post a pic? Are the heads larger than the common sun coral?

 

[Paul C.]

These picture are about four months old and right when i got it from my LFS. It has thrived in my tank and the blooms are crazy when feeding. I do think it is a black branching sun coral but structure looks more like a dendro more then a sun coral. We call it the incredible hulk. Don't have any recent pics in full bloom

 

[MrPicasso]

Those are nice.

 

[TrevNC]

Loki, I have the same nocturnal problem witha big green and purple wellsophyllia. How do you change that?

 

[Young Frankenstein]

Just curious, has anyone ever seen a black colony?

Yes I had one

 

[TrevNC]

sry guys wrong thread

 

[Paul C.]

When I first picked it up I had to bait it for feedings like you are doing. I used garlic guard with frozen "salad" of brine shrimp, cyclop, oyster eggs etc... - I turn off the pumps for for a while while everyone feeds.
Good luck with your dendro

 

[Paul C.]

YF ....you had a black dendro or sun coral?

 

[Loki]

Loki, I have the same nocturnal problem witha big green and purple wellsophyllia. How do you change that?

Not sure with wellso but maybe it's the same. Just feed it the same time everyday and maybe even multiple times a day. It will get used to the feedings and start to expect them. When it expects them it will open up before you feed it and then thought the day (hopefully) good luck! Also don't feed with chunks just the liquid at first until its open and can accept the larger food. Less waste in the tank that way :)

WELCOME TO R2R! :) you should start a build thread and enter this months contest for new members.

 

[TrevNC]

what is the contest and how do I find out about them? I looked foward to being a member of this forum. I've found it to be very educational, Ive been doing this for five years and still learning. I mean when someone can teach you years of experience in minutes you would have to be stupid not to listen

 

[Seagars]

my 2 colonies - one of each. just started feeding them CYCLOPEEZE FREEZER BARS and waiting for them to explode!!! Paid $25 for each colony. any advice is great appreciated.

 

[MrPicasso]

The Tupperware feedings has been working well to get them fed. Have they opened up at all? Mine get all puffy and eat but still no full extension. But the feedings seem to be helping and I hope it's just a matter of time. Nice find

 

[Seagars]

how long do you leave them in the tupperware while feeding?

 

[Mbc]

I would recommend you bait them with garlic or the juice from the feed as others have suggested...do it the same way, same time of day and you will have success in feeding them. It's important to have them in a heavy flow since they are non photosynthetic corals light placement is not a factor.
Good Luck and Enjoy!

 

[Seagars]

thanks for the help. i was told top put them in shade. but it sounds like put them in a place with more flow regardless of the lighting.

 

[Loki]

thanks for the help. i was told top put them in shade. but it sounds like put them in a place with more flow regardless of the lighting.

Yeah they have no need for light. Actually they grow upside down in the top of underwater caves and get all of their nutrients from particulate in the water that they catch. So putting them in the shade is absolutely fine. I would assume they could have to much light and that would be a problem but not enough light is not.

You have to feed these guys every now and then. If you have enough nutrients in your tank like phytoplankton they can consume that but a good spot feeding will be best and make them grow faster :).

I got my first dendro a few years back and got a lecture on it because apparently the one I was getting came from 300ft down and was illegal to collect or something :-/.

 

[Seagars]

feeding it more often is helping

 

[SeymourDuncan]

Looks great! I have a new black one acclimating. Will post pics when i put it in its final cave. I'm glad someone mentioned they live upside down, I have a perfect cave just waitin for him.