Rescue Corals

[ferguson2]

Just wondering what you all do "special" for your rescues that you normally wouldn't do for the rest of your corals.

[MechEng99]

Nice rescues ferguson! The first few pages of this thread outline what all we do differently. I feed daily for some (differing foods for different corals/issues), different medications/dips, different flow/light, and sometimes "surgery". Yes, some poor-off corals do fine with regular treatment, but not all can recover without a good bit of human intervention.

[ferguson2]

ok so im failing epically with this red open brain. im considering cutting off the dead/dying part. good idea or not?

[MechEng99]

Sorry...my computer died (got a new one). How's it looking? If the remaining tissue is healthy and inflating, then I cut off the dead/dying tissue parts, then superglue a thin line of healthy tissue to the freshly cut skeleton. That helps the freshly cut tissue not tear in the water flow.

[ferguson2]

was a total loss. not sure why that one didnt make it while the rest care coming along great.

[Mhayes462]

Mecheng99, why would an open brain be dying on one side and doing well on the other? The one side eats well and has all its color. The other side is dying and only has part of its mouth now. What do I need to do? Can I cut off that end of the coral and glue the flesh down, or is there something else I can do?


Mike Hayes

[Mhayes462]

Or anyone else?


Mike Hayes

[MechEng99]

Sorry for the delay. What I've found is that when Trachy's start to go on one side, the only thing to save them is to either cut them well back in the healthy tissue or to superglue a heavy line where you'd otherwise cut.

I'm not sure why this is, but it sucks. The coral will seem to do great...then just recedes massive amounts day-to-day until it's gone. I've lost quite a few thinking "this one seems to be ok." I'm hoping to get a microscope soon so I can maybe see what's going on. They all go like that...so I'm thinking there's something going on with that coral species. Sorry I'm not much help there.

[zaq11]

I improved the condition of sick acan by freqent feeding about 3 times a week at night when the coral opend and the acan healed in few weeks. cutting the dead area is very helpfull .

[Mhayes462]

Ok, that's exactly what I did. It has a fold in the middle of the coral and I cut it there and superglued the flesh. So basically I ended up with one round side. It looks to be doing ok, but kinda too soon to tell.


Mike Hayes

[Avantika]

Nice rescues! It is always rewarding to bring something back from the brink.

[MechEng99]

So right now I have well over 40 rescue corals ranging from softies to SPS...and even some anemones. Even though my "rescue room" has only been set up for a short time, it is quickly filling up. Just thought I'd share some of the ones I've recently taken in as well as some success stories.

March 2012


May 2012


Cyphastrea just came in...already healing nicely


This one is healing nicely too




Got this scoly around March 2012


Recent

[MechEng99]

There are actually about 10 polyps hiding on this skeleton...sad...


This Montipora is still hanging on (ok, I know it's not LPS...shoot me.)


Anyone know what this is?


Believe it or not...there's a teeeeeeny polyp of a chalice still holding on

[Mhayes462]

One of my successes


Mike Hayes

[Mhayes462]

And another


Mike Hayes

[MechEng99]

Any before pics?

[JustinBT]

Mike, about the pic with caption "anyone know what this is?" Looks a little like a blasto? I brought one back from simiar condition and I have to say I'm hooked on rescue coral, always keeping an eye out. My last find was a trumpet alot like yours, I havent seen anywhere near that kind of extension yet but keepin at it. Those are very healthy looking specimens!

[MechEng99]

Originally Posted by JustinBT

Mike, about the pic with caption "anyone know what this is?" Looks a little like a blasto?

It's not a blasto, but I can see how the skeleton could look like one. The polyp structure is much different, and the corallite structure is different as well. I'm thinking it's Cladocora, possibly C. caespitosa, and is probably non-photosynthetic. I've been making sure to feed it regularly, and it is growing quite fast.

[wireefman]

i think its anther candycane.... probaly the teal and red colored

[TX..r33f]

wow this thread has inspired me to rescue corals! i had bought a trumpet coral with 15+ heads on it. when i got it it was white white "bleached" i have had it for about a month. Its his getting a brownish color and eat really well. i will post pics tomorrow

[MechEng99]

TX - that's great! Definitely post up some pics!

[emeraude1484]

Betting the unknown is a suncoral Tagging along to see!

[JustinBT]

Ah jeeze I didn't even think of sun coral, my dendro only has one head so I'm unfamiliar with its colonial structure (guessing it'd be similiar to a sun). Though it does look MUCH more like a cladocora now that I've googled it. Haha always happy happy to learn something new

[bill4t]

I got a torch that detached itself from the skeleton how would I help this guy dont wanna see him die. I dont think he liked the tank he was in and when i put him in my tank 3 days later this happened any thoughts

[MandarinFan]

Hi Everyone,

I have a plate coral that is looking terrible. A few weeks ago the magnafloat hit it while cleaning the glass and a slight tear occurred, nothing I thought was a big deal. I moved it to a very low-flow, low-light area of the tank and it got worse, so I moved it back to under the halides. The very tiny feeder tentacles stopped coming out at night, but the tear stayed the same (about 1/2" long) so I thought maybe it just needed a bit of time to recover from the small injury.

I just got back from being out of town for two weeks while a non-fish friend watched the tank. The plate declined in a hurry and now is mostly a skeleton - see pic attached. Any tips on how to save it? I'm really bummed and hope it can pull through. It sits on the sand bed in medium flow under MH and actinic bulbs.

Thanks in advance for your help!