Torch Coral Won't Open

[afmo]

Well, its my fault, i was using the magnet scrubber on the glass of the tank wednesday, and turned around to talk to the missus, and ended up whacking my torch coral with the magnet. Knocked it over and it sucked up immediately. I checked and it doesnt look like anything broke from the exo, but now it just won't open up. The tentacles are extended a bit, but they are dark and only out about a quarter inch. I've been watching and i havent seen it expel any stringys (can't spell the big word LOL) but its been 3 days and i'm kinda worried. any ideas/suggestions?

 

[steelhealr]

Place it in a safe area if you can...perhaps on the substrate for the time being. One reason why I tell folks to leave room around all sides for magfloats, maintenance, etc. Give it time. SH

 

[SkiFletch]

Agreed, patience. Monitor it for brown jelly infections, but it should recover naturally

 

[afmo]

Agreed, patience. Monitor it for brown jelly infections, but it should recover naturally

ok, i moved it down into a nice protected corner on the substrate. The color is coming back, but it still isnt open all the way. Still just keeping an eye on it at this point. what does a brown jelly infection look like ski? I've been watching it closely and havent seen any signs of stringy expulsion or deflation of tentacles (i.e. extending but falling flat) so i guess thats good. hopefully it looks like its gonna make the turn.

 

[SkiFletch]

Leave the torch where it is for now. Moving a coral right after acclimation can be more stressful than just letting it adapt to its location. brown jelly infections aren't actually infections at all but immune responses of the coral to stress, inflamation, or sometimes disease. In torch corals, the flesh will recede into its skeleton and cover itself with a brownish mucuos layer as it decays. If the brown jelly appears rapidly, it may be best to just quickly frag it and place it back on the sand bed and hope. Torch corals seem to be more prone than other Euphyllidae corals to brown jelly, especially in the days/weeks right after transport. Keep water conditions VERY stable.

 

[afmo]

Lights came on this morning and the torch opened up like normal. I notice a few deflated tentacles where i hit it with the magnet, but nothing like what ski described. I'm going to leave it on the substrate in its corner for a few more days to make sure its gonna be ok.

 

[SkiFletch]

Sounds good. Keep an eye on it, and if possible, leave it in that corner for at least a couple weeks to let it get acclimated. Moving it around is just more un-wanted stress to a flexible organism.

 

[afmo]

Sounds good. Keep an eye on it, and if possible, leave it in that corner for at least a couple weeks to let it get acclimated. Moving it around is just more un-wanted stress to a flexible organism.

will do

 

[afmo]

ok....well, i guess i spoke too soon on this...one branch of my torch has died, and it looks like a second one is starting to go...

the one branch that i hit with the magnet is dead and turned into a brown jelly like substance like what ski described. the other one is losing color. The largest branch is still bright and fully extended. I've been keeping the brown goo siphoned off the one branch, is there anything i can do?? Its still in the same spot i moved it to after i hit it with the magnet scrubber

I'm bummed now

 

[SkiFletch]

Just keep siphoning and keep your fingers crossed. This happens a lot with torches