New Dendro not looking good...

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Got a single dendro polyp on Sunday Jan. 10th and I'm worried that something is not right. At the LFS it was open and looked immaculate.

Initially I thought it was just not opening because it was stressed from the move, but upon further inspection it appears to be loosing tissue. Flesh on the stalk is recently missing and sorta peeling away in a few spots and the head doesn't look right either. Here's a pic.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q234/tomalwin/IMG_2969.jpg

Is this a normal settling in thing or is something wrong? Someone with dendro experience please help me out.

Thanks,
Tom

[ryeguy28]

My sugestion would to be

Get it into a med-high flow Area and don't try to feed it or anything
Mine are still closed and I got them on the same day as you lol
So just give them a few more days and see how they look
I it continues to lose flesh rapidly dose some iodine ( that's what reeferrob told me to do with my plate)

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Solid advice Ryan, thanks. If it looks any worse tomorrow I might give it an iodine dip in lugol's.

[Sir Patrick]

Dont know anything about dendros, but...

I read ryans post on dosing iodine to the tank (probly for sunscreening purposes, I would guess), then read toms post about dipping in an iodine solution.

As said- I dont know much about dendros-

Tom- you sure a dendro can take an iodine dip? Had to ask, just to make sure, before somthing was done out of context of info. Just a just in case post, I am sure you know what you are doing, but just in case.

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Thanks for checking me.

With dendros I don't know what I'm doing! I'm honestly not sure if it's OK to dip dendros. In researching dendros I read that they can get parasites and be dipped in medications (don't recall which one). I posted dipping in hopes that someone would either say "No, don't do it!" or "I dip all of my new dendros blah, blah, blah...". I also realize that dosing the tank and dipping serve two different purposes. Prior to dipping I'll verify with my LFS that it is OK to do so. I appreciate the "just incase" so don't hesitate to do it again.

Tom

[Sir Patrick]

^ no problem! I figured, better safe than sorry! Glad you took the post for exactly what it was! I really have no clue either, but....

[ReeferRob]

In this case I would be a bit nervous dipping the Dendro in Lugols until I have found others that have done it with a high rate of success.

I recommended that Ryan research Kent Tech-I and consider dosing it for his small Pico. I would however feel more comfortable dipping it in something a little less harsh like Revive and see how it does. I have dipped mine when I first purchased it and didn't show any signs of no liking it.

Also be sure to get it in more indirect to completely shaded area of the tank with medium to high flow as observe the reaction.

As I mentioned before, mine had been closed for a week or more with no ill side effects.

[Tom@HaslettMI]

thanks for the reply Rob. I've had it in a couple of different spots trying to find a place it "likes" but to no avail. I've read that lighting does not matter... they don't need it but it's not harmful either.

This morning it's mouth was really wide open. To the point where there is skeleton showing. This does not seem good.

Tom

[whitetiger61]

i took a dendro that had 1 head on it and it was almost dead..i put it in a cave with med-high flow and gave the it 5ml of cyclopezze and water solution every day..i now have 3 full heads and 3 babies on this thing..until it is back looking good dont not feed it large meaty foods like mysis..it will take it but will take to long to digest and spoil inside them..it is normal for them to stay closed up for up to a week after a good feeding of large foods..thats why mine only get cyclopezze or coral frenzy..they stay out all the time..i do feed 1 mysis shrimp as a treat about once a month but i cut it in half..

Rick

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Good info. thanks.

I just got off the phone with the LFS and they suggested I bring it back and they'll replace it. They thought it might be due to stress from being a fresh frag (never thought to ask about that when I got it). They said this happens occasionally with recently fragged dendros. Another example of why I love my LFS!

[ReeferRob]

thanks for the reply Rob. I've had it in a couple of different spots trying to find a place it "likes" but to no avail. I've read that lighting does not matter... they don't need it but it's not harmful either.

This morning it's mouth was really wide open. To the point where there is skeleton showing. This does not seem good.

Tom

Correct they do not require light to photosynthesis their nutrient requirements, but in your case light could cause additional unnecessary stress.


i took a dendro that had 1 head on it and it was almost dead..i put it in a cave with med-high flow and gave the it 5ml of cyclopezze and water solution every day..i now have 3 full heads and 3 babies on this thing..until it is back looking good dont not feed it large meaty foods like mysis..it will take it but will take to long to digest and spoil inside them..it is normal for them to stay closed up for up to a week after a good feeding of large foods..thats why mine only get cyclopezze or coral frenzy..they stay out all the time..i do feed 1 mysis shrimp as a treat about once a month but i cut it in half..

Rick

Awesome info and tips Rick!


Good info. thanks.

I just got off the phone with the LFS and they suggested I bring it back and they'll replace it. They thought it might be due to stress from being a fresh frag (never thought to ask about that when I got it). They said this happens occasionally with recently fragged dendros. Another example of why I love my LFS!

Glad to hear they are taking care of you! These corals sure are beautiful!

[whitetiger61]

agreed..glad they are taking care of you..try to locate your new beauty in a cave somewhere with moderate flow and feed micro foods and watch it prosper..dont get worried if it doesnt open right away..although i dont normally drip accumilate my corals i did with the dendro..try that might just open up right away for you..also if you drip try just a little coral frenzy while you drip..see if you can get it to open..be careful not to give it to much though..

Rick

[MizTanks]

How would Dendros do in a nano? I'm asking cause of the info I'm getting from this post~like their low light requirements.

[ryeguy28]

Rick

dendros are not like suncorals they are not affected by light at all
so you can have them in the open and wont matter

tom
you can feed micro foods but they will do better off of a more meaty diet like pe mysis
or the reef stew we got from the meeting
and what would be really good is if you feed a slury of all 3 at several small feedings a week

[ryeguy28]

How would Dendros do in a nano? I'm asking cause of the info I'm getting from this post~like their low light requirements.



they are not photosyntetic ( spelling ) they are a NPS coral
so there are no lighting requirements just feeding

so like i said in my post ^^^^ there feed like that a slurry of meaty foods several times a week ( but small feedings )

[ReeferRob]

Just to add a little bit on the feeding as it can be easy to over feed, I have had mine about 4 months now and have yet to direct feed it. I do feed the tank regularly, with Rotifers, Arcti Pods, Cyclopeeze, Coral Frenzy, and Rod's coral food, so it is well feed, just nothing specifically to it or for it. Also it popped out a little baby yesterday!

[MizTanks]

Cool beans! I just read that although the relationship between the peanut worm and the dendro is way cool~it's not necessary~which would go nicely in my nano as I would need a more stationary type coral~gonna look into this!

[ReeferRob]

Cool beans! I just read that although the relationship between the peanut worm and the dendro is way cool~it's not necessary~which would go nicely in my nano as I would need a more stationary type coral~gonna look into this!

Make sure its a Dendro, not a Sun coral or Tubastraea. Dendros are much more hardy and easier to care for and keep successfully!!

[stunreefer]

Read this for general care: http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5591


dendros are not like suncorals they are not affected by light at all
so you can have them in the open and wont matter
Dendrophyllia species and Tubastrea (sun coral) species respond the same to light in captivity... see the link above for info on why Tubastrea don't open as fast...


Tom, I dip all my new Dendrophyllia (and all coral for that matter) in TMPCC, which is an Iodine based dip. See my reposnse on RC regarding parasites. A LFS should know not to sell a freshly fragged anything, especially a coral like this. You have to frag them very carefully to prevent damage of the coenasarc otherwise it will cause necrosis. Make sure whatever they try to give you is fully healed, and shows no sign of recession at the base. With that said, something else is definitely going on for the polyp to be in bad shape like that, that's not fragging related.


MizTanks, are you referring to the coral commonly called "walking dendro"? This is not a Dendrophyllia, rather it's Heteropsammia cochlea. Dendrophyllia, Tubastrea, Heteropsammia among many other NPS genus would do just fine in a nano ;)

[ryeguy28]

i kinda ment they dont have a lighting requirement
not that they didnt detect light lol

[jimsflies]

To be Mr. Obvious, the dips would all be done with tank water (saltwater) not freshwater as is common for some corals.

Jamie- They had one of those walking dendro at Fish Drs. in Ypsilanti a couple weeks ago. It definitely wasn't cheap. Plus the thing likes to walk behind the rocks were you don't see it. I also didn't think it looked half as nice as a bright yellow dendro. But it was unique.

[MizTanks]

Now I'm confused~a bright yellow dendro doesn't walk? Meaning it has no worm?

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Dendros have worms?!?!? Now I'm really confused.

Not to go off topic by getting back on the topic....

I brought the dendro back to the LFS and they are holding a replacement for a couple of weeks to ensure it is healed and healthy.

Austin - Thanks for the link. I read it back when I was researching dendros... an awesome resource, thank you. I replied to the parasite discussion in RC. If not parasites or fragging what would you say caused this? I did not see anything picking at it. The only thing in the tank that I can think of that would possibly do damage to it is a tiger pistol shrimp. I've had the shrimp for many years and it has never gone after a coral or anything else. I also had the LFS test the water and Ca=380 alk=8 and Nitrate=undetectable.

[MizTanks]

Dendros have worms?!?!? Now I'm really confused.

Not to go off topic by getting back on the topic....

I brought the dendro back to the LFS and they are holding a replacement for a couple of weeks to ensure it is healed and healthy.

Austin - Thanks for the link. I read it back when I was researching dendros... an awesome resource, thank you. I replied to the parasite discussion in RC. If not parasites or fragging what would you say caused this? I did not see anything picking at it. The only thing in the tank that I can think of that would possibly do damage to it is a tiger pistol shrimp. I've had the shrimp for many years and it has never gone after a coral or anything else. I also had the LFS test the water and Ca=380 alk=8 and Nitrate=undetectable.

Here's what I found in my research: http://www.bluezooaquatics.com/resources.asp?show=405

[ReeferRob]

Dendro
http://cherrycorals.com/product.php?productid=2024&cat=140&page=1
Walking Dendro
http://liveaquaria.com/diversden/ItemDisplay.cfm?c=2733+8&ddid=77194

[whitetiger61]

Rick

dendros are not like suncorals they are not affected by light at all
so you can have them in the open and wont matter

tom
you can feed micro foods but they will do better off of a more meaty diet like pe mysis
or the reef stew we got from the meeting
and what would be really good is if you feed a slury of all 3 at several small feedings a week

Ryan

I never said they couldnt have light..i said i placed mine in a cave and thats where he did the best..as far as meaty foods..i would hesitate to give a young dendro meaty food like mysis as i stated before its very easy to over feed it..

[stunreefer]

Now I'm confused~a bright yellow dendro doesn't walk? Meaning it has no worm?
No, Dendrophyllia species do not "walk", nor have a symbiotic relationship with a worm. See the links Rob posted.

I replied to the parasite discussion in RC. If not parasites or fragging what would you say caused this?
Based on your response I believe you're correct in that it's the corals mesenteries showing - the parasitic nudis I worried about look identical to that though - yellow and frilly, nasty little buggers!

Although it's easy to cut through the skeleton of Dendrophyllia, they're not the most tolerable coral in regards to fragging. They must be in top shape and be kept in an established system after fragging, and smothered with foods afterwards to encourage tissue regeneration (lost due to fragging). I'd venture to guess that the LFS received the colonies recently, they were not in the best shape upon receipt, and they went to town fragging them. None of the above is a good idea, glad they're willing to replace for you. BTW, the only thing I'd ever consider fragging a dendro with (for optimal success) is an Inland bandsaw (or similar).

[MizTanks]

Dendro
http://cherrycorals.com/product.php?productid=2024&cat=140&page=1
Walking Dendro
http://liveaquaria.com/diversden/ItemDisplay.cfm?c=2733+8&ddid=77194


Thanks for the links Rob~talk about some beautiful corals~I would love to have just 1 polyp~would totally make my tank!