Open Brain Receeding

[sothoth]

I bought an open brain (orange/green) today and got it home to see it's receding a little from it's rock. This is my first one so in addition to looking into this a little on my own I was hoping for any suggestions on whether this suggests it's unhealthy and if so what I should do about it.

Thanks!

 

[SkiFletch]

Clearly unhappy... Could just be adjusting to your system if its brand new. If not, do you happen to have a Pygmy Angel of any variety? Open brains are one of the types of corals they like to nip on if they feel like it. Failing that, check your chemistry, most notably ammonia, pH, temp, and sg. Then once you've checked, have your LFS verify your results to rule out inaccurage test kits

 

[sothoth]

Clearly unhappy...

Well, it was receding before I put it in my tank. Just a bit, but noticeable, while in the bag. I'll keep an eye on it. Water conditions are quite good, I had a salinity disaster about a month ago but that's fixed, the rest were all verified by a LFS so I'll just be patient with it. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Mr Miagi]

Do you feed it? They actually need to be well fed. Keep some meaty foods up to them(Brine shrimp/ Krill / Prawn and Fish flesh etc) atleast twice a week IME, otherwise, without adeqaute lighting, they will start to detach from their skeleton.

 

[sothoth]

Do you feed it? They actually need to be well fed. Keep some meaty foods up to them(Brine shrimp/ Krill / Prawn and Fish flesh etc) atleast twice a week IME, otherwise, without adeqaute lighting, they will start to detach from their skeleton.

I have krill and brine and mysis for it, but since I just got the thing (receding before I even put it in the tank) I don't have any way of knowing if it was under fed or not. The place where I got it might not have been target feeding it, so I'll try that and keep a close eye on it.

I think they feed at night, right? So I should target feed after lights out?

 

[Mr Miagi]

I think they feed at night, right? So I should target feed after lights out?

You got it! There tenticles will come out after lights out, or if youve got Actinics or moon lights, when the main lights are turned off. Youll notice what it looks like, the outside flesh receads, and the mouth section, which is the center during the day, will expand, and youll see some feeder tenticles. Brine, Mysis and krill will be fine, but youll have to Turkeybaster them, which can get tedious, whatever you feel fine with.

LFS stores often neglect direct feeding there corals, due to cost, time, and they are also not there at night. hat might have affected its health, but nothing you you cant try fixing!

 

[steelhealr]

The open brain can recede due to 'shock' if you just bought it. It also depends on many other things:
-where did you place it?
-what lighting and intensity?
-water flow?

Although brains need to be fed, this is not the urgent issue here. I think it maybe appropriate, depending on your response, to reduce it 's lighting a bit and observe, then, change it's position as needed. They SHOULD be on the substrate as sharp edges on the LR can injure it.

SH

 

[sothoth]

What about proximity to other corals? Do they sting or are they toxic?

Just read this for myself... yes, they sting... I should have looked into that before I put it in the tank!

But... I have ample space to move him so I'll do that now...