Yes, I'm a sap...

[Sweetpea]

I stopped into a different LFS today, and I found a candy frag today that caught my eye... the one I have is all green, but this one was brown with a brilliant green center. It looked a little rough, but I bought it anyway. There was a second frag next to it that was nearly dead, only about 15-20% tissue remaining. I told them no one would buy that pitiful thing and got them to give it to me. My current candy coral is very happy and seems to feed on anything I give it... oyster eggs, cyclopeeze, tiny bits of shrimp, squid, etc. I plan to target feed the new frags in the same manner, but I was wondering if anyone might have any other suggestions to help the dying one recover?

[lReef lKeeper]

feed, feed, feed and moderate flow. if you can ... i would say to target feed it about 3x per day. i am doing this with one of my Lobo's and it is making a grand recovery !! it may take a few days to get a tenticle response, but it WILL come around if its not to late.

[Whoyah]

Agreed.

[graphixx]

I would recommend target feeding like stated above, but 3 times a day seems a bit much to me. I think if you gave them one good feeding a day that would be sufficent. that much feeding you may run the risk of your paramters getting nasty. especially in a smaller tank such as your Tracy.
Just thought I would put my 2 cents in. One of the key things to recovery is good water conditions. and I would think that would be compromised with such frequent feedings.

[Reef_Angel]

I'm with Greg on this one too. Your water quality is obviously already very nice if your other coral is thriving well. Feeding 3 times a day is over kill IMO. If the food isn't consumed, I see algae breakouts and cyano too. The little thing probably thinks it already died and went to heaven in your tank Tracy. Just watch it's progress now. I bet you'll save it with no problem! ...Angel

[Sweetpea]

Thanks for the advice! Here's a pic to give you an idea of what I'm up against...

[lReef lKeeper]

i have to agree, i forgot about your tank being so small. in a tank the size of mine it would take a lot more to mees up the parameters.

[graphixx]

yeah tracy, I would just keep your paramters up and give it a good feeding daily and it should sprout back up!!!! I have had them worse than that and I fed every other day and kept the water pristine and they popped right back to life

[Reef_Angel]

I have a real good feeling that those are going to make it Tracy. Their mouths are in good shape. Remember the good 'ol days of covering up your sun coral to feed them. You could do the same with a wee bit of cyclopeeze. Have the cup over the candy canes already, and take a tiny hard frozen chip of cyclopeeze, and while working quickly, hold the piece between your fingers so the tank water doesn't get at it to easiily, and slip it quickly under the cup. Let it feed for an hour or more. Take the cup off and let the rest of the cyclopeeze go to the rest of the tank for a treat! Those little honey's will pop right back around! Good Luck! ....Angel

[Sweetpea]

I have a real good feeling that those are going to make it Tracy.

Thank you for your vote of confidence... I sure hope I can nurse these babies back to health! I just knew that no one would buy them, and I hated to think that they'd just sit there and waste away. That's why I told the owner to just give me the frag. I'll post updates on the progress...