Hitchhiker Id Please (Sorry, Some New Ones Added!)

[-Nemo-]

If it is decaying, it could produce ammonia. If/When there is no tissue left on it, the hard skeleton can be used as rock.

 

[sorgan]

Lol didn't see the yellow polyps! Nah they are a great softie to have and real cracker of a hitchhiker
The aip underneath is not however lol

The goni won't do much harm, in fact if it's dying it will help cycle the tank (ammonia source) and then the skeleton will make great LR.

 

[heavenly_d3vi1]

Ahh that coral may explain my new ammonia levels then!? I was wondering where it came from as all the rock came out of LFS curing tank, and was in my water within about 10 minutes, so not really much die off time!

 

[lewiss]

I'm going to disagree slightly with that Sorgan. Not all goniopora expand. The flower pot genius are known for their short stalks in the skeleton. Although I've never heard of yellow goni before so agree it's prob bleached!

PS levels look fine, just the tank cycling. It'll go down just wait!!

PPS. Love the Harry potter DVD!!

 

[sorgan]

A healthy goni (regardless of type) will extend out of it's skeleton and the flesh around the polyps will swell, be it by 5mm or 5cm this is how goni's are. Unfortantly most specimens we see are not healthy.
You are right in saying that some types don't expand as much, but, if you can see the skeleton to that degree the coral is in decline.
I have kept (and keep) a few varieties of goni now and a there is a few things I have found (I think) in my ventures -
Greens tend to do better then others, why? I don't know so don't ask
The bigger the colony the better it's chances, I believe this is down to the starvation factor, untill enough food is present a larger coral has more to waste away before it croaks.
They don't need (or always enjoy) intense light - somewhere slightly shaded with random flows is perfect for them.
They really do need the odd feed.

Edit- alveopora (goni's cousin) is similar but the only the polyp leaves the skeleton, no connective flesh it's also known as a flower pot coral, maybe it's this your thinking of buddy?

 

[lewiss]

I think I may have misunderstood. I agree that goni is dying. Where the skeleton shows is dead - agree. The goni shouldn't show any skeleton - also agree! And it's dying nd pretty much doomed - agree again!! but the yellow bits look normal for some shorter goniopora (minus the colour)

I know you know a lot more than me on marine but I've seen a couple of really healthy goni's that barely extend out of the skeleton (but still don't show the skeleton) I hope this is making sense!!

 

[sorgan]

Ah that is the cross over, right the polyps may not come out far but they will have flesh between them, usually the same color as the polyps stalk.
Well if it's in good nick so if it is in tank for a while and looks like a golf ball it isn't gonna be a happy coral.

Also I don't think I know all that much about marines, my specialities just run in other places to others, if you gotta feed the coral to keep it Alive it's likely that I have researched it lol - others, sps for instance, I know next to nothing about.

 

[heavenly_d3vi1]

so, is it even worth trying to feed this thing, considering how far gone it is.. or just leave it to die in peace!?

 

[sorgan]

Leave it, it will only feed if it extends and it won't extend if it hasn't got the energy so you would just pollute your tank.
Move it down the bottom of your tank, away from everything and see what it does, sometimes they like lowish flow and lots of space but TBH I think it's on it's way out, but it won't hurt to try.

 

[heavenly_d3vi1]

I had already moved it to the bottom, right in the middle away from the powerheads and the erm 'lil things' have extended a bit more, but still not far enough to get hopeful about lol, a couple of them have a very slight gap in the middle of the wavy bits, but no where near open! Nothing lost tho, it was only bought as LR after all!

 

[sorgan]

Can you get another picture of it? Close up of the polyps and a side shot would be great.

 

[heavenly_d3vi1]

I'll see what I can do! I only have my phone tho lol.. give me a sec

 

[heavenly_d3vi1]

Now most the ones that had a 'opening' in the middle were round the side and on top, so couldn't get a head on shot.. thought I'd be clever and shove my hand in and turn it slightly.. and they all completely closed up and retracted again (as you can see in the 2nd pic)

Don't know if these are any use..

 

[lewiss]

I think I miss understood and we agree!!

I wasn't being funny when i said you know more about marines than me!! You do, a ton more!!

 

[sorgan]

I'm sorry but that isn't coming back, it's looks like it's just holding on as it is.
It will make good LR or you could try fragging some of the 'healthy' (the bits that are just mostly dead not fully dead) but I wouldn't bother