Is this coral dead or dying?

TRITON1 · #1 05/27/2007, 02:13 PM

I was wondering if my kenya tree coral is dying. It was doing fine days ago, but has taken a turn for the worst. They only changes recently made to the tank were the removal of ~2/3 of the caulerpa from the sump (that was replaced with chaeto from a fellow reefers tank) and the addition of a Naso Tang. All the water parameter are in check and all the other soft and LPS corals are doing fine. Here are some pics:

What it used to look like:

What the colony looks like now:

And a close up:

I want to know if I should remove it before it degrades my water quality. Hope you can help!

NanoGurl · #2 05/27/2007, 02:25 PM

It's possible the Naso is picking at it and the coral is retracting from that. Other then that, not sure sorry. Hopefully someone else can help.

ToniYo · #3 05/27/2007, 02:35 PM

My Kenya does this occasionally, almost like a sarcophyton does when it sheds. My droops, falls over, draws up, makes you feel really sorry for it and then in a couple of days...viola! All better!

ToniYo · #4 05/27/2007, 02:35 PM

My Kenya does this occasionally, almost like a sarcophyton does when it sheds. Mine droops, falls over, draws up, makes you feel really sorry for it and then in a couple of days...viola! All better!

TRITON1 · #5 05/27/2007, 02:44 PM

Hmmm I guess its a good thing that I didnt get out the razor blade........

TRITON1 · #6 05/27/2007, 02:47 PM

Nanogurl,

I havent seen the Naso picking at any corals, but he may be sneaky

Toniyo-

At what point should I remove it. Any definate signs of death (flaking ect) What happens when you coral sheds?, Ive never heard of that.

ToniYo · #7 05/27/2007, 03:33 PM

If tissue begins to dissolve, that's not a good sign. Leathers will go through periodic sheds. The sarcophyton will retract it's polyps and a thin "film" like skin develops over the surface. In a couple of days the "film" is shed and the coral exteds the polyps again and life is good!

dodgersfan25 · #8 05/27/2007, 04:24 PM

yeah i had a colt and a toadstool that looked similar. one day it looked like it was just about dead and the next it was back to normal. they shed a nasty, clear gooey skin every once and a while

TriniStylez · #9 05/27/2007, 05:31 PM

It will probably be fine. I have had them do that sometimes and they always have gotten better.

Mr Miagee · #10 05/27/2007, 07:25 PM

My Kenya went through the same thing will similar symptoms and it turned out to be my Angel fish nipping at it.

Bonebrake · #11 05/27/2007, 07:28 PM

My Kenya tree looks exactly like that when it is getting ready to "frag itself". It didn't do it for the first four months I had it and now it creates a new frag once or twice a week. It will bend over like that, shrivel up, and then drop a branch that will attach somewhere close by or float off and attach elsewhere.

AquaReeferMan · #12 05/27/2007, 07:33 PM

I would watch the Naso. Im not saying he is the culprit but my buddies Yellow Tang started nipping at his kenya tree.

Pmolan · #13 05/27/2007, 09:05 PM

My vote would be the naso, since thats the major thing that changed. Always keep a lettuce clip in there for him and he shouldnt bother it that much, I only say this because I had a similiar experience.

illal · #14 05/27/2007, 09:26 PM

mine looked the same after it got stung by a near by candy cane ... it took over a month for it to bounce back just be patient and increase the flow

TRITON1 · #15 05/27/2007, 11:28 PM

I dont think it is the Naso since all the other corals are doing fine, including three more Kenya Trees. I'll keep an eye on her though, just in case. I'll just wait and see if it improves tomorrow or if it frags itself. I'll keep you guys posted. Thanks for all the input.

NanoGurl · #16 05/28/2007, 12:21 AM

Hmm... well I was thinking it might be the Naso bc they are peckers at algae and what not... and sometimes corals get either a slime or algae on/around them.. and it attracts the fish that peck at the algae/slime which causes the corals to react and withdraw. I've seen this with a few of my fish.. even though they are not really going for the corals, it effects them.

Hope you get it figured out whatever it is! Great choice with the Naso!

fishyvet · #17 05/28/2007, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by NanoGurl
Great choice with the Naso!

Great choice? He put a fish that grows to 1.5 feet into a 75g glass box. I hope you have plans for an upgrade in the future. Best of luck with your kenya, I hope it recovers.

TRITON1 · #18 05/28/2007, 01:55 AM

The naso is a small - 3 inches max. - so quite some time before/if he becomes 18". And yes, I am well aware of the size of my fish and the limitations of my tank and plan to act responsibly when I have to, so Please dont ticket me officer

. As for now, the naso is eating EVERYTHING (except my coral I hope) and seems very content.

Since she knows her stuff, I'm sure Nanogurl was just stating that Naso's are cool fish and indeed they are.

NanoGurl · #19 05/28/2007, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fishyvet
Great choice? He put a fish that grows to 1.5 feet into a 75g glass box.

Yea, great choice!. One of my favorite fish. I wonder if I could get one and put it in my 75 with my PBT? Hmmm... (rolls eyes)

NanoGurl · #20 05/28/2007, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TRITON1
Since she knows her stuff, I'm sure Nanogurl was just stating that Naso's are cool fish and indeed they are.

Jealous! Got any photos of him?

Froggy · #21 05/28/2007, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fishyvet
Great choice? He put a fish that grows to 1.5 feet into a 75g glass box. I hope you have plans for an upgrade in the future. Best of luck with your kenya, I hope it recovers.

A Naso is a great fish but I have to agree with fishyvet. Even small a 75 gallon is not a good match for the fish. Naso's are one of the more active swimmers and need much more than a 75 gallon tank to cruise. If you want to keep the Naso ( and I can understand why you would), I would plan on an upgrade sooner than later. You said you plan to upgrade ( if that is what you mean by "act responsibly" ) when needed so you might as well do it now. It is needed IMO.

Good luck with the Kenya. I think it will be fine and is going through a shed period as others have mentioned.

TRITON1 · #22 05/29/2007, 03:50 PM

Nanogurl~

I'll work on getting a pic....I have some tank issues right now though. It involved a no electricity, a burst pipe, and a party at our house for memorial day. Murphy's law at its best! No deaths yet and the tang is still doing good! Guess its a good time to try out that three days with no lights technique....