View Full Version : Catalaphyllia study group
Reef bloke
27-12-06, 20:59
With the new imports of Catalaphyllia jardinei from TMC slowly filtering down to our LFS's i was wondering if we should set up a thread to share our experiences of this coral past and present?
Now we are seeing these corals again its a bit pointless ignoring the fact that they are here so i propose those that have kept and are keeping these corals outline the care they gave and are giving.
This would include:
If the Cat was/is a 1980's/90's specimen or the new wave of harder to keep Cats
Water parameters
Tank set up/flow/light
Purple or pink tip cat.
How long the specimen survived
Positioning
General observations
Feedings
Condition/appearance of the coral during its demise
Treatments that helped
Anything else of valueThis thread would exist here as an aid, not as an excuse to argue or bicker.
What do you think mods/admin? edit: Great idea. Add your info to this thread everyone. ~Tony~
Tony
The values below are an average of my tank conditions (I had it in 2 different tanks as well). I think the cats about a Year old now.
I run a Deltec apf600 and use carbon regularly.
If the Cat was/is a 1980''s/90's specimen or the new wave of harder to keep Cats: One of the new wave
Water parameters: No3 <5ppm, Ca ~ 480ppm, Alk ~ 8, pH 8.2, Temp 27.5, Po4 <0.01, Mg Not measured.
Tank set up/flow/light: 5 * 2 * 18" and 5 * 2 * 2. First tank approx 20-30 * turnover and 2 * 250w Halides (14K). Second tank 2 * 400W (14k) and flow of pulsing 30-70 * turnover. Both predominantly sps/lps and large 'nem.
Purple or pink tip cat: Purple
How long the specimen survived: Still just hanging on (AFAIK)
Positioning: Tried just about everywhere, differing flows/light intensities
General observations: First couple of weeks, nicley expanded and looked stunning followed by a very gradual demise.
Feedings: Tried everything from no feeding to heavy target feeding. Generally fed eagerly throughout.
Condition/appearance of the coral during its demise: Just expanded less, no loss of colour, tentacled may have started shrinking first IIRC?
Treatments that helped: No additives tried (I personally dont believe in them) but as above tried moving it everywhere from buried deep in the sand (as recommended) to high up on the rocks and differing flows etc.
Anything else of value: when it became clear that I'd run out of ideas, I gave it away on here to what should have been a more suitable environment. From the reading I did, they're supposed to regenerate quite quickly if replaced in ideal conditions.
Edit: Forgot to add that one of my cleaner shrimps became a real nuisance just before I gave it away, whether it was trying to eat the coral or stealing food from it wasn't really clear but I spent a lot of time chasing it away with a feeding stick.
HTH
Sounds like a great idea to me. Here's my experience with this coral:-
If the Cat was/is a 1980''s/90's specimen or the new wave of harder to keep Cats:-Recent import
Water parameters:-NO3 below 2ppm, P04 below 0.008, Ca 435, Alk 9.8 dkh, Ph 8.1-8.3, Mag 1350
Tank set up/flow/light:-Mud based + skimmer hybrid system, gentle flow rates, 400w halide replaced with 250w unit. Korallin Ca reactor. No ozone or UV reactor.
Purple or pink tip cat:-Purple tipped
How long the specimen survived:-9 months :(
Positioning:-Gentle flow, specimen placed in shaded area under tunze stream
General observations:-After initially opening and expanding well the polyps started to shorten until they hardly extended at all. The coral then took on a bloated appearence before rapidly receding away
Feedings:-Did not accept any foods
Condition/appearance of the coral during its demise:-See above
Treatments that helped:-After increasing the size of the sump the coral opened up to its full size again for a few days but then closed down again
Anything else of value:-None
I have been playing around with the idea of adding another tank into my reef system.....
I really like the idea of a seagrass tank......possibly with a mixture of oolite sand and mud as the base. Gentle flow provided by my wavey sea's. Lighting will be a 150w 6500k halide. Seagrass cuttings will then be planted and allowed to mature before possibly adding a couple of my trachyphyllia's. I'm also tempted to try another Catalaphyllia in this tank....I'd really appreciate your views on this system
ATB Tomhttp://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/images/icons/icon14.gif
Reef bloke
28-12-06, 12:50
My turn lol
If the Cat was/is a 1980's/90's specimen or the new wave of harder to keep Cats-new import but not tmc
Water parameters- No3 <5,PO4 undetectable on salifert kit,Ph 7.9-8.3,Ca 390,alk 9,temp around 27
Tank set up/flow/light-single 250 halide,30by30by24h cube,2 6060 streams,dsb sump,turboflotor 1000 skimmer.Nem in tank,medium flow,medium light.
Purple or pink tip cat. - pink tip
How long the specimen survived - Looked ropey after 4 days so returned it
Positioning - on rubble bottom,medium light,flow
General observations- polyped out well at first then tentacles receeded after my clowns tried to maske it a home
Feedings- Would not except any food
Condition/appearance of the coral during its demise -Started recceding so returned before this occured
Treatments that helped- none given
Anything else of value-Clowns tried to set up home which stressed the coral so only in tank a very short time.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y171/maxoutput/DSCF0036.jpg
If the Cat was/is a 1980's/90's specimen or the new wave of harder to keep Cats New Wave - not one of the latest TMC ones though
Water parameters Ca=450 Alk=12.5 No3=5 Ph=7.9
Tank set up/flow/light SPS reef, gentle flow (in this position), 400W 14K + 4 x 54W T5 Actinics
Purple or pink tip cat. Pink - highly flourescent green oral disk
How long the specimen survived 10 months and still going - considerable increase in size during this time.
Positioning 12 inches from surface, directly under a halide bulb
General observations This coral expands massively when happy and acclimated well. It needs space. Currently not touching other corals so no sweepers have formed at this time.
Feedings Very occasional feeds of prawn or cockle are accepted.
Condition/appearance of the coral during its demise n/a
Treatments that helped n/a
Anything else of value - whilst this species is usually found in sea grass beds it can and does do very well in the right reef situation. I have seen it thrive in several tanks now, none of which are anything like seagrass environements. Like most LPS it does better with slow to moderate flow and again with many other LPS, I have found it a fallacy that these types of animals do better in lower light levels - they may be able to tolerate lower light but very often do very well (once acclimated) to very high light intensities.
Let's just hope I've not jinxed it now by writing this on here :eek: Here's a picture of mine:
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f299/Jonock/mycat.jpg
Here's one of the newly imported TMC ones that I'm 'babysitting' for a while. The photo is from above through a glass bowl. This one's got brown tentacles with no obvious colour on the tips (even though the photo appears otherwise). Same conditions as mine. It opened nicely within 1 day and looks good.
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f299/Jonock/TMCat.jpg
If the Cat was/is a 1980's/90's specimen or the new wave of harder to keep
New Wave TMC Import
Water parameters
Ca=440 Alk=11 No3=50+ Ph=8.0
Tank set up/flow/light
Egg crate suspension for other corals/LR. High Current at surface where other corals are, little flow where Cat is. 150W 10000k halide with 2X 24w Actinics. Overskimming a lot, 50 UK Gallon tank with a Deltec MC 500 running on full wack.
Purple or pink tip cat.
Purple- Very Bright Green/Brown Disks
How long the specimen survived
Err one week so far hopefully longer
Positioning Very shaded area with a few shafts of light coming through under egg crate suspension directly under live rock placed 45 angle into established DSB
General observations
I have been checking this regularly to see any areas where the polyp is receding. It started to recede greatly when placed under indirect light so now it is completely shaded and is doing great. Also a lot happier placed 45 in the dsb as opposed to vertically.
Also packs a wallop of a sting, I touched it for around 2 seconds by accident and I could feel it for around 1hr afterwards.
Feedings
Currently feeding every other day with mysis and whitebait sprayed with new era frozen food spray. Very responsive to feeding and eats in a similar fashion to my anemone.
Condition/appearance of the coral during its demise n/a
Treatments that helped n/a
Anything else of value –
I did an acclimation when I first got mine for about 2 -3 hours. At this time I also performed a dip using seachem Reef Dip, loads of gunk came of it. When it seems a bit withered I feed it a tiny bit of whitebait by placing it on its tentacles along with some mysis. It really likes this and instantly eats it.
It is in a very low flow area a dead zone in my tank and it is very responsive. It is also very shaded and seculded from everything else.
For now here is a video of what is like, enjoy!
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=6474321349638139127
Reef bloke
29-12-06, 22:24
Thanks everyone for your observations/feedback thus far,lets hope we can detect a pattern.
GOTAREEFTOKEEP
30-12-06, 01:31
If the Cat was/is a 1980''s/90's specimen or the new wave of harder to keep Cats:one of the swallow 1s from last year
Water parameters: No3 0ppm, Ca ~ 440ppm, Alk ~10, pH 8.3, Temp 26, Po4 <0.01, Mg1300.
Tank set up/flow/light: 5 * 2 * 2.5 tank 750lts, 2x400W (20k) flow of pulsing 30-90% 2x6100, sps/lps bare bottomed tank with fuge filled to the brim with cheato, apf850, carbon 24/7, ultiphos24/7 both changed as needed, ozone via controller at 300+mv calcuim/kh added via kalk and jet stream 1 reactor water change 75ltrs once every 4-6 weeks with reef crystals.
Purple or pink tip cat: Purple short tipped with a very green oral disk and light greeny/brown tentacles.
How long the specimen survived:1+ year.
Positioning: bottom 3rd of tank light/medium flow and medium lighting too.
General observations: always looked good.
Feedings: feeding raw tiger prawn 1 to 2 times a month, fed ok and seems to be growing
Condition/appearance of the coral during its demise: does shut down every now and then for a day or two but comes back bigger and brighter.
Treatments that helped: as with all my corals i have noticed much change for the good since starting to dose with fauna marine's "bac" and "mins s".
Anything else of value: I looked at one of the new one's today in MA st albans and i'm positive that the cat ive got is the short tentacle "Catalaphyllia picteti" and the tmc ones are the "Catalaphyllia jardinei" if this is to make a diffrence in the long term i dont know but worth a note all the same.
Also think a pic of each would go a long way to get a visual idea of each as to it stated discription.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q1/IMG_1302%20(Medium).JPG
Reef bloke
30-12-06, 02:10
good idea with the pics,just added mine
Just thought this would cheer you up, lads: ;)
From A Practical Guide to Corals for the Reef Aquarium by Ed Puterbaugh and Eric Borneman (no less):
"Elegance Coral (Catalaphyllia jardinei). Elegance corals are very common and successful additions to an aquarium....... (C. jardinei) is a hardy species....
Difficulty of care: 3" (where 1 is easiest and 10 is most difficult - as a comparison, Anchor is 5 and Grape is 6!).
So I don't know what you're worried about, folks. It's clearly easier to care for than Euphyllia! :D :D :D
Hi Guys
Added my details re my recent addition, it is a stunning coral and I hope that I can do it justice and see it flourish.
If the Cat was/is a 1980''s/90's specimen or the new wave of harder to keep Cats:-Recent TMC import
Water parameters:-NO3 below 2ppm, P04 below 0.008, Ca 440, Alk 9.7 dkh, Ph 8.0-8.2, Mag not yet measured
Tank set up/flow/light:- 72x30x30, closed loop, pumps 1 x 6500, 3 x 3500 ocean runners and 5 power heads, skimmer,calc reactor and u/v for use when introducing new stock or for problems. 48x24x18 sump, auto top up, Aquatronica controller etc, Arcadia 3 series with 250w halides.
Purple or pink tip cat:-Pink tip
How long the specimen survived:-Purchased 28th Dec 2006
Positioning:-Bottom of tank, in position of gentle flow and reduced lighting
General observations:-Cat started to extend almost immeadiately, seems to have settled.
Feedings:-Has already taken two feeds of brine/mysis, target fed using a pipette.
Condition/appearance of the coral during its demise:-N/A
Treatments that helped:- No expierence yet
Anything else of value:-Not at the moment
Reef bloke
30-12-06, 18:06
If only lol
Just thought this would cheer you up, lads: ;)
From A Practical Guide to Corals for the Reef Aquarium by Ed Puterbaugh and Eric Borneman (no less):
"Elegance Coral (Catalaphyllia jardinei). Elegance corals are very common and successful additions to an aquarium....... (C. jardinei) is a hardy species....
Difficulty of care: 3" (where 1 is easiest and 10 is most difficult - as a comparison, Anchor is 5 and Grape is 6!).
So I don't know what you're worried about, folks. It's clearly easier to care for than Euphyllia! :D :D :D
I managed to get a small specimen (2.5" shell) back in Aug 06. I was amazed at how it expanded - almost 4x its shell size - I couldnt place mine on the bottom so placed it half way up and perched on a branching rock - it was in good flow and expanded wya beyond what I thought it may do. I had one about 9 years ago in a previous setup and it never looked like the one I have now. Its a pink tip variety and not a tmc one. Its in a 19" cube sps tank and is doing extremely well - I do not feed directly or anything specific for it. It began expanding so much that it started to sting a few neighbouring sps so its now been repositioned lower down and is still doing very well. A couple of fellow reefers who had not seen my tank before mistakingky thought it was a nem when they first saw it as when fully expanded the one I have does have a nem appearance. Its now been six months and its doing very well - my only prob is that its doing so well that I may have to rehouse it soon due to lack of space - or that I need to sort my upgrade tank sooner than later.
Roshan
my only prob is that its doing so well that I may have to rehouse it soon due to lack of space - or that I need to sort my upgrade tank sooner than later.
Roshan
I'm sure I can find room in mine if you need to find a good home for it one day! ;)
I'm sure I can find room in mine if you need to find a good home for it one day! ;)
Haha sneaky monkey :D I'll second the above statement lol
MaidstoneMarine
31-12-06, 23:54
If the Cat was/is a 1980's/90's specimen or the new wave of harder to keep
Early import in 2006
Water parameters
Ca=420 Alk=9.4 No3=40 Ph=7.86
Tank set up/flow/light
140kg live rock, 3x250w halides, 2x6100 streams + returns = 30x turnover. high flow on surface, cat placed within rockwork on sandbed with little direct flow
Purple or pink tip cat.
Pink - Very Bright Green/Brown Disks
How long the specimen survived
Since march 2006
Positioning
intially in shaded area beneath rockwork. opened up fully but started to receed after a six months. moved from rockwork onto the sandbed between the rocks. at bottom of tank - not directly under the centre halide but close enough.
General observations
started to receed after six months on the rockwork in the shade. moved from rockwork when it was almost completely receeded and 90% of the skeleton was visible. The receeding was very quick taking only a couple of days. Now on the sandbed and recovered. Polyps aren't as fat as they were on the rockwork but it's looking like the rest of the specimems posted on here. One side is coming away from the skeleton but it's still opening up fully and doesn't seem the worst for it. After discussion with a couple of other owners this could be a method of propergation?
Feedings
Once in a blue i decide to feed it but it only get squirted with mysis and brine.
Condition/appearance of the coral during its demise receeded almost completely. 90% of the skeleton was visible. wished i got a picture of it like this!
Treatments that helped didn't do anything other than move it onto the sand bed.
Anything else of value –
not that I can think of at this time other than why on earth am I filling this out at 5 minutes to midnight on new years eve? :)
Marc Foord
01-01-07, 18:03
I looked at one of the new one's today in MA st albans and i'm positive that the cat ive got is the short tentacle "Catalaphyllia picteti" and the tmc ones are the "Catalaphyllia jardinei" if this is to make a diffrence in the long term i dont know but worth a note all the same.
thanks matt....slightly less worried about mine now, as i thought the tentacles were very short compared to the one i saw on trops at the weekend.....looks like we have the short tentacled not the long then :rolleyes:
SPS Hoover
02-01-07, 19:15
Found one local to me and it was only £49.99 couldn't leave it in the shop Cam did have option to buy it first but only for 5 sec's:D :D
Original
If the Cat was/is a 1980's/90's specimen or the new wave of harder to keep Cats Is a frag on the Home Marine one which sawn up the day it was purchase
Water parameters Zeo system low levels, high calcium
Tank set up/flow/light 1800watts of light closed loop system
Purple or pink tip cat. Green
How long the specimen survived Had now for over three years
Positioning Semi shaded on sand but base is millputted to a rock to stop it falling over
General observations Likes high ph even spent a couple of months in Si G's tank
Feedings Never
Condition/appearance of the coral during its demise N/A
Treatments that helped
Anything else of value
New one
If the Cat was/is a 1980's/90's specimen or the new wave of harder to keep Cats Latest Shipment
Water parameters Zeo system low levels, high calcium
Tank set up/flow/light 1800watts of light closed loop system
Purple or pink tip cat. Green and purple
How long the specimen survived only been in system today
Positioning Semi shaded
General observations Likes high ph even spent a couple of months in Si G's tank
Feedings Never
Condition/appearance of the coral during its demise N/A
Treatments that helped
Anything else of value
Stick some pics on Si, I'm sure everyone would like to see your biggun. :rolleyes:
instantsquid
02-01-07, 21:40
If the Cat was/is a 1980's/90's specimen or the new wave of harder to keep
One of the latest batch.
Water parameters
Ca=425 Alk=8.6 Mag=1250 No3=5 ph=8.1
Tank set up/flow/light
84x24x24 tank with 48x18x18 sump. 100kg live rock/reef bones, 3x250w halides, 6 x 1260 Eheim closed loops, 2 x 1262 returns. Korallin 1501 Calcium reactor, Deltec AP850 skimmer, auto top-up.
Purple or pink tip
Pink tips on bright green disks.
How long the specimen survived
Owned since 30 December 2006.
Positioning
Sheltered area out of direct flow and direct light. Located on the sandbed close to rockwork.
General observations
Still very early days, but all polyps showing better expansion than in the shop tank. Tentacles only being moved very slightly by water movement.
Feedings
Not directly.
Condition/appearance of the coral during its demise
N/A
Treatments that helped
N/A
Anything else of value
Not at this time - it's still very early days.
If the Cat was/is a 1980's/90's specimen or the new wave of harder to keep
latest tmc ones
Water parameters
Ca=460 Alk=9.8Mag=1250 No3=5 ph=8.0
Tank set up/flow/light
72x24x30 tank with 48x18x15 sump. , 2x400w halides, am 500 twin skimmer
am 1000 calcium reactor
Purple or pink tip
Pink tips on bright green disks.
How long the specimen survived
picked up on 02/01/2007
Positioning
on sand bed not in direct flow
General observations
only been in tank 5 hours but has opened up fully
Feedings
Not yet
Condition/appearance of the coral during its demise
N/A
Treatments that helped
N/A
Anything else of value
not yet
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e7/markey1975/DSCF0721.jpg
If the Cat was/is a 1980's/90's specimen or the new wave of harder to keep
tmc batch - late 2006
Water parameters
pH 8-8.2, KH 2.5-3meq/l, Calcium 400-420ppm, Mag 1500ppm - Nitrate under 5ppm, phos not tested. Temp 77-78f.
Tank set up/flow/light
see my TOTM link below
Purple or pink tip
Pink tips, disk has bright green patches and purple
How long the specimen survived
purchased on Dec 14th 2006
Positioning
on shallow fine gravel substrate at front of tank angled at 45degrees to substrate - medium indirect flow wafting across specimen
General observations
ejected pea-sized balls of gravel/detritus from each mouth after a couple of days in tank.
Feedings
Fed some small bits of mysis/bs a couple of times in last few weeks with tongs
Condition/appearance of the coral during its demise
N/A - I hope I never have to fill this in.
Treatments that helped
N/A
Anything else of value
not yet
damn it - my flame angel is picking on my cat. This surprises me as I thought the cats sting would dissuade it.... I have isolated the coral in a floating breeding trap. It still looks fine... think I'll be looking to trade it though... ****!
A pic taken with my phone so not the best of quality. The cat is feeding well taking a mixture of Mysis & Artemia every other day. The pic does not do the coral justice.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/Resized_Cat 6Jan 06.jpg
quick update: my cat was looking very sorry for itself in the floating trap after being picked at by my Flame Angel. I thought I was going to lose it actually. As a desperate measure I decided to put it back into the main tank in a very shaded, low flow area. It's been there for a couple of days now and is looking a bit better - the Flame doesn't seem to be picking at it in this new location.
steve@ cambridge coral tech
09-01-07, 14:49
well heres a pic of mine folding round some lance fish, boy they can eat, am giving it a little something once every 10 days or so, have found with mine, after eating it stays expanded all night, but onnce its had its fill of the food it looks pretty crap for a day afterwards then comes back to its glory, i dont think mine extends his tentacles aswell as some ive seen, he's in partial shade from my 250wt 20.000k halides etc, i read somewhere they dont like 20k lights whether this bears any relavance on the tentacles not extending aswell i dont know? my bulbs are due to be changed so the one above my cat i may replace with a 14k and see what happens, do any of you guys have yours under 250wt 20.000k?
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/munch 1 (Medium).JPG
hi Steven - minor observation, but that looks to be touching a couple of other corals there possibly (a red lobo to the right?) - I'd think that would result in damage to one or the other.
Not sure if anyone has observed this, but I hear that feeding large chunks of food can result in regurgitation usually during the night. I know that if this happened in my tank, I'd probably not see the ejected food - so how do people actually know feeding large items actually does any good? do these corals feed on such items in the wild?
Just wondering...
steve@ cambridge coral tech
09-01-07, 15:34
hi clippo, with the camera angle its hard to see, the red lob is a good distance away from the cat, the trachy to the right is a far bit away but the elagance opens up quite a bit and does get close, i'll move the trachy at some point, as for the food whether they really need a great deal i cant say for sure, as i said i'll give him something every 10 days or so, he hangs on to it for a couple of days and the spits out whats left, cleaner shrimps are a problem as i have to sit there like a knome fending the off with tongs untill his mouth is sealed fast around the food, the shrimps are leaving very soon;) how's your cat now?
sounds good mate - mine isn't looking too bad now. I moved it to a shaded area and it seems to have perked up a bit. I might consider moving it to a slightly brighter location in a few weeks if it doesn't deteriorate..
From what I can gather these new ones need really gradual acclimation to light. I started of with mine completely in the shade. I have moved it out 1/2 into direct light now and it seems to have opened up alot more.
steve@ cambridge coral tech
09-01-07, 17:13
my mates in the trade he got mine for me, in tmc they were under 400w halides, although not right under them, the light was above two tanks in the middle
mines directly under 400w halides ,but on the sand bed in 30 inch deep tank
ive been feeding mysis mainly
clippo i'm glad yours is now doing ok .i'm looking forward to fantastics pics :cool:
The Wizard.
09-01-07, 23:13
I got mine in London and it is under 150 watt halides 14000ks :D settled in nicely
and feeding well ;)
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r17/Grandwizard_01/Elegancetoday22.jpg
update - my cat now looking better after a few weeks in the shade. Flame no longer interested. Have no moved it back out into the open (still slightly shaded). Here are a couple of shots under normal and actinic lights.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/DPP_4063.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/DPP_4064.jpg
How are everyones' Cat's doing now btw?
Mine is 2 months old now. Regularly taking meaty foods and really expanded.
I think new polyps have grown but it's not budding of and seperating yet. All seem to be on the same skeleton. Is this likely to be new polyps or just one large polyp when its shrunk and more polyps are visible underneath.
mines doing great (touch wood ) i even had a float switch stick that didnt affect it to much
feed it once ,some prawn it didnt look to great the next day tho ,so havnt done it since
hows everyone else getting on early days tho :cool:
If the Cat was/is a 1980's/90's specimen or the new wave of harder to keep Cats
:Feb 2007
Water parameters
:sg 1.0026
KH 13.2
Temp 25.4
No3 10-15ppm
Tank set up/flow/light
See below
Purple or pink tip cat.
Purple
Positioning
Part Shade
Feedings
Not going to as per Si C.:confused:
RichB.
Mine is 2 months old now. Regularly taking meaty foods and really expanded.
you sure about that? - I've only had mine for 2 months as of today...
Anyway, mine is back in the open and seems happy. I am not feeding it. Does anyone know what species it might be based on previous pics?
you sure about that? - I've only had mine for 2 months as of today...
Anyway, mine is back in the open and seems happy. I am not feeding it. Does anyone know what species it might be based on previous pics?
Ok a few days premature but I bought it on 22nd Decemeber, so yes roughly two months.
Defitently it is Cat. Jardenai but strangely it's the shallow water species(indicative of purple/pink tips)
Shallow water species generally fair alot worse than deep water ones but touch wood all good here
Reef bloke
18-02-07, 23:53
Right,ive buckled and purchased a TMC Cat
If the Cat was/is a 1980's/90's specimen or the new wave of harder to keep Cats-new import tmc
Water parameters- No3 <5,PO4 undetectable on salifert kit,Ph 7.9-8.3,Ca 310,alk 10,temp around 27
Tank set up/flow/light-triple 250 halide,60by30by30h tank,2 6060,1 6100,1 6000 streams,dsb in tank,ap850 skimmer.Nem in tank,high flow,high light.
Purple or pink tip cat. - pink tip
How long the specimen survived - just introduced
Positioning - on sand bottom,in a cave out of direct light and flow
General observations- polyped out well at the mo
Feedings-no feedings given
Condition/appearance of the coral during its demise -N/A as yet
Treatments that helped- Eurythromycin in tank
Anything else of value-Not as yet
Bit of a crappy pic due to low light
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/catweb.jpg
one thing i have noticed is how different peoples cats
the lot that has recently come in seem to be shorter tentacles
this is mine taken yesterday , any ideas why they look so different to a lot of others ,
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e7/markey1975/DSCF0830.jpg
instantsquid
20-02-07, 12:29
Yours looks a lot like mine, Mark. I'll try and get a picture now it's back in the main tank! :dance:
The Wizard.
20-02-07, 12:35
Hi Markey here is two of mine taken the other day :D :thumbsup: :ohyea:
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r17/Grandwizard_01/GuardingElegancecanyon.jpg
Hi Markey here is two of mine taken the other day :D :thumbsup: :ohyea:
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r17/Grandwizard_01/GuardingElegancecanyon.jpg
Amazing girth of tenticles on the right hands specimen; bet this makes the other cat feel a bit small! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
The Wizard.
20-02-07, 15:54
Amazing girth of tenticles on the right hands specimen; bet this makes the other cat feel a bit small! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: So your saying The Wizard has amazing girth Tony :o :thanks: :hysterical: :ohyea: :applause: :worship:
The Wizard.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tony B http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?p=1623479#post1623479)
Amazing girth of tenticles on the right hands specimen; bet this makes the other cat feel a bit small! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
So your saying The Wizard has amazing girth Tony :o :thanks: :hysterical: :ohyea: :applause: :worship:
on one side not the other tho:o :thumbsup:
Reef bloke
22-02-07, 01:43
Something ive noticed that i hope someone can confirm.My previous Cat had a plain skeletal structure.The new one i have from TMC has a red fleshy band around the top.I take it this is quite normal or is it isolated to the TMC sourced Cats?
Reef bloke- I'm glad I'm not the only one who cracked and ended up buying a Cat again :o
The two that I have also have red tissue around the base/cone/skeleton. On one of them this is actually a red sponge....I'm now wondering wether these have been grown in area's with high dissolved organics/plankton.
I've def noticed that keeping my pH up has helped. My ca reactor went off line and during that time my tank pH went up slightly. My Cat showed a visible improvement in polyp extension.
Just alittle food for thought.
Tom http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/images/icons/icon14.gif
mine has a red band on the skeleton too - thought it was a kind of coralline algae...
These are being sold in a well known fish shop off Oxford Street in London for £85.00, noticed STM had them for this price too.
Wonder if they'll drop in price by any more :confused:
The Wizard.
22-02-07, 18:01
These are being sold in a well known fish shop off Oxford Street in London for £85.00, noticed STM had them for this price too.
Wonder if they'll drop in price by any more :confused: :annoyed: Tony have a look about mate LFS are selling them for a lot more money than you have quoted :mad: £150/£160/£185/ £225 BUY IT NOW ON THAT WELL KNOWN AUCTION SITE :angry: :banghead: :shocking: :sick: New place in Norwich was selling large ones for £85
Reef bloke
22-02-07, 18:44
I have been to a shop asking £200 for them!:confused: Mine was about standard pricing if not a little cheaper.The red band around mine looks very soft almost like a sponge.I wonder if this protects the coral tissue in some way,a symbiosis if you will.Could it keep the coral tissue healthy and once gone opens it up to infection?
I bought mine from the new shop in Norwich that Wizard (Hammer) mentions - ('allo mate, off for Duncans at the weekend!!! :cool: )
For a very reasonable price. This beauty cost £89 and is at least 5". The shop is only four weeks old and well worth a visit, just off the ring road near to Asda.
Gav.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/dscn1908_small_100.jpg
Oh and mine also has the orange stuff growing on it. I assumed it was some kind of sponge.
Hi i would like to thank bob for posting the pic hopefully i will get more pics of my tank posted soon. The elegance is 4 /5 yrs old and will soon be looking for new home as its starting to outgrow this one.I feed it once a week on chopped mussel its place in part of the aquarium where it gets quite a strong water flow. Lights 1x250 wtt mh calcium hydroxide added as top up nothing else is added to tank .
http://www.marinetreat.info/other/elegance.jpg
edit-scoob-post moved and picture copied as well :)
Reef bloke
24-02-07, 18:02
Bad news,my Cat is looking very ropey.The majestic was picking on it so i placed it in my sump.Its was at this point i noticed some of the flesh drooping from the skeleton.At first i thought id damaged it but on closer examination over a period of 30mins i discovered that a tiny Gall crab was living inside the Cats flesh.Apparantly all Cats that die in Aquaria that display Catalaphyllia disease have this Gall crab present.
Not looking good peeps!:(
hi my tank is jewel rio 180 with black stress bar remove and glass one put in its place .my elegance is 4/5 yrs old i feed it once a week on chopped mussel .it get a very strong water flow across it my lights r 250 wtt 14000 k 2 actinics which r on for 12hrs blue 10hrs mh.the only thing i add to tank is calcium hydroxide via top up .i will post pics of rest of tank l8ter thanks Allan
steve@ cambridge coral tech
24-02-07, 22:53
wow aldo that is a stunner, very impressed, may be he'd like to come live with me:whistling: :worship:
Bad news,my Cat is looking very ropey.Its was at this point i noticed some of the flesh drooping from the skeleton.At first i thought id damaged it but on closer examination over a period of 30mins i discovered that a tiny Gall crab was living inside the Cats flesh.Apparantly all Cats that die in Aquaria that display Catalaphyllia disease have this Gall crab present.
Really sorry to hear about your Cat reef bloke :(
Have you any updates mate? Have you any good sites for Catalaphyllia info....especially about the condition your mention above.
ATB Tomhttp://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/images/icons/icon14.gif
Reef bloke
27-02-07, 17:53
I found the info on an Eric Borneman post,can remember where though now.Half of the Cat comes out(opposite end to the crab)so ill just leave it be for the mo.Not much else i can really do.
All the other info i have found is usually just posts on RC by peeps that have lost them.Not much info on anything productive to be honest apart from the fact Australian cats dont seem to suffer from Cat disease like others from other locations.I havent got a clue where the TMC ones are from.
Shortly coming up to the 3 month mark for me, CAT is stunning now and has expanded massively. Slightly smaller than an A4 page when fully expanded and its skeleton is about the size of a DL envelope.
It's stopped taking whole food now like pieces of lance, but likes small things like chopped mussel, brine and mysis.
It has shown better growth with the addition of extra magenesium,strontium and calcium also.
How is everyone elses?
Reef bloke
15-03-07, 17:35
Bit of an update on mine too.Its still in the sump,looked ropey until i started to feed Krill.Dang this thing feeds like a horse and its been looking good of late(famous last words).Ill try it back up in the main tank soon.
I have a rouge red sea wrasse in the tank that I am still trying to remove. I had to go away on business and whilst away he decided that the cat looked tasty. He has really decimated the poor thing and I am gutted as it was looking stunning, the cat is now in the sump, about a third of its original size with the rest of the coral dead. Will it repopulate this dead area? It is now feeding and looking better than when first placed in the sump so hopefully it will survive.
:annoyed: :annoyed:
looking through a lot of posts and the web a couple of things seem to pop up a lot!
They seem to like part shade with a bit of flow!
One thing most don't seem to do or have trouble doing is feeding them? But most die of starvation over several months?
There also seems to be some having problem with fish nipping at them and others steeling food from them? Could be similar to keeping a sun coral?
I did have one approx 10 years ago and from what I can remember they loved Iodine?
All other parameters seem to be the same so maybe they are lacking something we don't normaly put in the tank :confused:
Have fun
right update all mine has started to recede from the side :(. it stopped taking food about a month ago and now near enough 3 months old i can see skeleton.
tmc cats are definitely not special. if you want long living cats try and find australian ones.
steve@ cambridge coral tech
26-03-07, 22:47
well touch wood, mine are still stunning, i have 3, fed the first one, but stopped after two feeds as he always looked ropey the following day, so have never feed the other two and they have better tentacle extension but all open very impressively, i've found these to be non aggressive, very sticky and will grab anything passing by but dont seem to sting near by corals? ie red sea pulse. all are from the first shipment, just hope they last
Thats a shame about your cat haulme,
Thats the problem with these corals, you can convince yourself that they are doing really well and then bang......they take a turn for the worse :(
I have found that keeping a high pH and good flow around my two specimens has resulted in good expansion. I occasionly feed them several krill shrimps. I've also been blasting my rocks to flush out the mulm. I've noticed that they also appreciate this. I can't remember where I read it, but someone else has also recommended this.
HTH Tom http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/images/icons/icon14.gif
BTW mine have white tips. What colour are yours Haulme?
mine still appears to be fine after over 4 months.... it hasn't grown much in size. I am not feeding it directly.
BTW mine have white tips. What colour are yours Haulme?
Purple tipped mate. White ones should last better I took a bit of a gamble with mine which I have seemed to have lost :(
triggerhappy
01-05-07, 10:21
Hi,
I got a marvelous Cat via eBay (of all places!), I do not know how it survived getting through the post, due to the way it turned up, but I have to say that it is going from strength to strength, so much so in fact that my pair of Percula Clowns have now decided to use it as a home...I know that this may certainly be dodgy for the Cat, but I am keeping a close eye on everything, if I fear the worst then the Percs will be moved. If this happens it will be a shame as to see them in the Cat is a marvlous sight! :wub: :wub: :wub:
(I think that the purple tips makes them believe it is an anemone).
Trig.
Seen them on ebay too, £60 buy it now....
instantsquid
01-05-07, 10:43
Anyone know how these eBay ones are coming into the country? I hope it's all above board...
triggerhappy
01-05-07, 11:05
...mine was from Acropora House...
Anyone know how these eBay ones are coming into the country? I hope it's all above board...
No, but I had a lengthy telephone conversation with an ebay seller, it's a guy on the South Coast, his first name is Tony and he imports a fair bit from what I could gather.
I did not ask about collection area or if he bought from TMC or imported direct.
instantsquid
01-05-07, 11:16
It was my belief that the TMC ones are all gone - there won't be any more for quite some time...
does anyone have any details of how the tmc ones are farmed
ie; do they let them split naturally or do they cut them up
just interested thats all :thumbsup:
does anyone have any details of how the tmc ones are farmed
ie; do they let them split naturally or do they cut them up
just interested thats all :thumbsup:
they are wild stock mate
thats interesting
thanks :thumbsup:
steve@ cambridge coral tech
12-05-07, 22:47
just a quick update, so far my 3 seem to be happy:)
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/pink (Small).JPG
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/white 1 (Small).JPG
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/white 2 (Small).JPG
Twistedpro
05-06-07, 13:16
hmm, well i have had my cat for around 4 months now, its doing great. I dont actively feed it but it does get some mysis every now and then if i give the fish some frozen food. Well my cat decided it wanted a larger meal and has bloody eaten one of my large britlestarfish, this thing was quite large with the main body the size of a 2p and the legs were 3"long. I am wondering if i should feed him slightly more often
had mine for nearly six months now - haven't fed it directly since first couple of weeks and it still looks great. Seems to have grown a bit recently. Flame Angel doesn't pay it any attention anymore.
instantsquid
05-06-07, 14:22
I too have now had mine about 6 months. It's definitely grown as it now presses up against the front glass when expanded, which it didn't do when I first put it in the tank.
I've never target fed it - it justs grabs what it can from the passing water. It's not in high flow, or high light, but it does look fabulous.
Well since my last post my cat has survived without a skeleton, it still expands and looks great. My tank has a low flow where it is which has helped but I think it does like light quite a bit.
Reef bloke
05-06-07, 16:40
After a ropey stage and getting attacked by a Majestic i moved mine to the sump.It was doing o.k but looked deflated and never expanded much.It had a Gaul crab under the flesh between the skeleton and it always looked pinched there.One day he came out far enough for me to get him with tweezers.From that day on its started to expand and is now in my nano looking better than ever (touch wood),had him 4 months now.
Feed him once a month but catches flake etc as per Instantsquid.
I dont know if its been reported in this thread but i have been reliably informed that the newer specimens are of Australian origin,this would explain why they are a little more hardy and dont suffer from the dreaded Catalaphyllia disease.
I dont know if its been reported in this thread but i have been reliably informed that the newer specimens are of Australian origin,this would explain why they are a little more hardy and dont suffer from the dreaded Catalaphyllia disease.
I thought Fiji?
Reef bloke
05-06-07, 16:51
You know what this hobby is like Tony,one person tells you one thing......My source was good,doesnt mean he was right though lol.
You know what this hobby is like Tony,one person tells you one thing......My source was good,doesnt mean he was right though lol.
Yes ain't that the truth! Maybe we're both wrong; do you reckon they came from Asda maybe? :laugh:
Reef bloke
05-06-07, 18:54
Pffttt i wish,wouldnt mind a buy one get one free on them.
SPS Hoover
05-06-07, 22:51
You are right in what you are saying about origin they told us at TMC
Reef bloke
05-06-07, 23:10
Cheers Simon,ive got a brain like a sieve.I actually heard it somewhere else too.
quick update - mine still OK. Noticed my red sea mimic blenny biting at it now though. I have moved it again as this fish seems more timid in one half of the tank.... I've moved it there.
I've had mine now almost 1yr - and its doing great. Its survived being sucked up by a powerhead - I had temporarily moved it in my old tank and was close to a seio - didnt realise how much it would have expanded in the temp location, and found it hanging on when i got home one day. Well that was about 6 months ago and it has since survived a tank move too. Its fully healed and has grown considerably from its original purchase size. I would say the skeleton is about 2.5 - 3 inches and it expands to almost 7-8 inches easily.
The only thing I have now noticed, since the tank upgrade, is that it is not as flourescent green as it used to be - could be due to it growing an expanding more, location, or more likley due to the very low nutrient tank it now lives in as the tank is 98% sps only. All the same, I have never fed it directly and it is doing great. I'm quite chuffed its made to it to 1yr.......:)
Reef bloke
27-07-07, 13:14
Mine been fine since i stuck it in my nano away from the angels.
Mine been fine since i stuck it in my nano away from the angels.
You need a new one, I know somewhere that has a lush big one:whistling:
Snowsurfer
21-08-07, 14:23
i also know somewhere that has one the size of a football. :) But i bought the smallest they had.
Think most LFSs are struggling to shift cats now - every one has filled their boots!
Great to see the new phase of cats proved much more hardy than previous examples - lovely corals.
Reef bloke
21-08-07, 14:34
You need a new one, I know somewhere that has a lush big one:whistling:
So do i ,it keeps calling me!
So do i ,it keeps calling me!
makes sense:):p
Apologise for the quality of picture. New camera is on the christmas list....
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/Picture2 001a.JPG
A 2006 import that has lost some of its original size before it got to me (purchased second hand). Since it has been in tank (4 months) it hasn't failed to show good expansion daily.
A pic for size comparison...
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/Picture2 002a.JPG
The PB tang is roughly 5 inches for comparison sake. Originally under 150w lights until I upgrade some time ago to 250w sat at the bottom of a 24 inch depth tank.
Chris
Reef bloke
06-09-07, 13:40
You need a new one, I know somewhere that has a lush big one:whistling:
Well i got the Cat in question,around 11" across.The original is now back in the main tank minus my angel:) .The new Cat got a battering from my clowns and i have now removed them.Heres the beast.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/cat1.jpg
Ill get another pic of my original cat later.
Update peeps please!
The Wizard.
06-09-07, 19:21
Wondered when this animal was going to be purchased, you have a stunning cat "sir" :whistling: :worship:
It seems that the cats being imported within the last 3 months have had a much better success rate than the ones that were imported at the end of 2006..the early cats seemed to suffer from the disease that borneman describes but these new cats seem to be doing well...
Its just an observation...what do u guys think
Thanks
Elliott
got mine Dec 2006 - looks fine although not grown much.
Your Cat is stunning Clippo..i have the pic of it as my screensaver..hope u dont mind lol :D
Seriously yours has to be the best coloured one ive seen..the bright green and brown pattern in it is awesome
Elliott
Got my Cat a couple of months ago, been in another tank and started to out grow it!
It's doing great, clown's have not been in it much but where it is in the tank I do have an auto feeder over it and my 20 tangs love to swim through it picking up the food, it's on the sand bed 3ft deep under 150w halide approx 16" wide a bit of a 'W' shape?
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/Cat11.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/Cat12.jpg
nice that - like mine but bigger.
I've seen mention of deep water and 'lagoonal' forms.... how do you distinguish?
Reef bloke
07-09-07, 15:22
It seems that the cats being imported within the last 3 months have had a much better success rate than the ones that were imported at the end of 2006..the early cats seemed to suffer from the disease that borneman describes but these new cats seem to be doing well...
Its just an observation...what do u guys think
Thanks
Elliott
As previously discussed in the thread the new wave come from Australia,these dont seem to suffer from the same disease as the first lot.They are more like the cats from years back.
Wizard-cheers mate.
Lovely cat Audi,is this one of the new wave cats from TMC?
Can we have a few other reports back from other cat owners from this thread,please report back even if the cat has died as the info is very valuable.
Cheers Tony
I've had mine for 4 months now and it has grown by 30-40% if not more, I did feed it lance fish in the early days which it did take, but haven't directly fed it in months and it's doing even better. I use Coral Vite, Zooplex and Cyclopeeze as additives and it resides about 2ft below a 150W 14k halide looking stunning!!! It's defo one of the tanks main showpieces IMO
Twistedpro
07-09-07, 15:29
i have had mine for 3-4 months now, it has doubled in size in that time. It has also spawned twice over that period. I dont know what caused it however i also had an urchin, snails, clams and i think acropora spawn at the same time over a period of 2 days
Lovely cat Audi,is this one of the new wave cats from TMC?
Not as far as I know, think it has been here for some time?
From what I remember years ago they did seem to have more colour? One thing I have noticed it that the hammers heads and frogspawns don't seem to travel well, maybe they are going through the same as the cats did?
Thanks
Glen
instantsquid
07-09-07, 16:01
I bought mine at the end of 2006 - it's still looking fabulous and has nearly doubled in size. So much so that I will have to move it in the tank soon, and I'm really nervous about putting it somewhere it doesn't like...
mines still alive without its skeleton!
Reef bloke
07-09-07, 18:06
mines still alive without its skeleton!
Is it still expanding well?If so it sounds like you have a catalanemone now lol.
Excellent feedback peeps,keep it coming.
here is pic of my cat , around 7 inches , 4 foot down , under a 14k 400 w mh ,
looks like its doing well , and is always expanded , apart from lights out ,
excuse the cyno tanks been set up for around 6 weeks , cat been here for 5
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h177/marcann/reef/002.jpg
Something Fishy
09-10-07, 15:05
Still got mine, purchased at the end of 2006. Doesn't like shrimp, mysis, mussel etc but is a partial to a bit of fish. Sat on the bottom of a 26" deep tank directly under a 250Watt Geisemann 14000K bulb. Grown from approx 4-5" (expanded) to around 6-7" (expanded).
Hi ,
I have 6 cats at the moment from 3 inches across to over a foot.
Originally from 2 huge cats that I fragged by splitting the skeleton then leaving the cat to separate by gravity on the polyps, takes about a week.
They did not show any signs of stress and opened up straight away.
All happy with life and at different places in my tank.
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x241/chillifish/Elegancecoral-CataphylliaJardinei.jpg
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x241/chillifish/cats11007-019934.jpg
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x241/chillifish/2onleft501onright60.jpg
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x241/chillifish/120cat.jpg
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x241/chillifish/60cat.jpg
cheers Chilli
Great looking pictures of your cats, Chilli if you ever need to get rid of one let me know :whistling:
Al,
Reef bloke
10-10-07, 19:05
Very nice chilli!
just thought i would say out of the first wave some people had some issues i asked them for the skeletons and out of 4 i have had 2 make a full recovery and one is trying but i will still give them much more time yet
Reef bloke
10-10-07, 19:18
Are these the indo ones that came through first time around,if so hats off to you sir!
Are these the indo ones that came through first time around,if so hats off to you sir!
i was under the impression all the cats comming in were from australlia one way or another but it was from the first batch that came to tmc.
they quite often do it and people throw them away but they will come back normally :thumbsup:
Had mine for 2 days now, Under 2*24watt Actinics and 2*28watt 15K T5's. 30 gallon tank (working on a 75 gallon tank should be set up mid-end 2008 :D, once cash is raised and I stop buying corals:D )
pH - 8.1
NO3 - <5ppm
S.G. 1.025
Ca - 483ppm
Mg - 1415ppm
P - <0.1ppm
Any advice on feeding would be appreciated! Noticed today that it expanded massively when I was feeding the Sun coral cyclopeeze.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t10/justin6823/IMG_2809.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t10/justin6823/IMG_2808.jpg
steve@ cambridge coral tech
07-12-07, 20:48
tips on feeding....dont:wave:
tips on feeding....dont:wave:
Cool, I'll go with that then! Means I can save for more corals :thumbsup:
steve@ cambridge coral tech
08-12-07, 17:32
thats just my own experiance and opinion, i've never fed mine directly. and have never had an issue, i know others who fed the ones they had and had issues, they were feeding meaty foods weekly, imo its not needed.:)
thats just my own experiance and opinion, i've never fed mine directly. and have never had an issue, i know others who fed the ones they had and had issues, they were feeding meaty foods weekly, imo its not needed.:)
couldnt agree more, its not like they randomly get cockle falling into there grasps in the wild :p i would feed them once in a blue moon if you wanted to give them a boost of energy, but i think they have to use a lot of energy to digest the food anyway :thumbsup:
Cool, Seems to have settled down nicely anyway! Today it has expanded to the size it was in the shop, and is looking gorgeous :ohyea: A real nice centre piece :grin:
My cat has been doing very well for the last 9-10 months.
In the last few weeks, I had a faulty temperature probe which was under reading by 4-5 degrees. Basically the chiller wasn't been switched on when the lights came on. At a guess the tank was peaking at 30-31. I hadn't clued up what was going wrong and it was like this for 1-2 weeks.
The cat was fine at these high temperatures, but since I have replaced the probe and the temperature has stabilised at 26 the cat hasn't fully expanded now for the last week and it doesn't look good. Such a shame after all this time. :(
Sorry to hear that Dave, hopefully in time it will return to its former healthy state.
My Clown seems to have moved house over from the leather to my Cat :mad: So far the Cat hasn't minded too much as it is still out :) but it has only been a couple of days. Is it worth trying getting the clown out or just seeing how it goes?
steve@ cambridge coral tech
27-12-07, 21:32
keep an eye on them mate, have seen clowns hosting in them before with no ill effect, but they may **** it off, just watch closely:)
What are the signs of the "dreaded cataphylia disease".
I'm kind of worried about my 2 as they almost seem to be trying to bail out of the skeleton. And their underneaths are cotton woolly.
Reef bloke
01-01-08, 17:09
The cats usually get very bloated and the tentacles shrink away to tiny stubs.Not sure whats happening to yours Craigg,sounds like a stress reaction.Are they in gentle flow or being lifted at all?
gentle flow really, never been in strong flow.
I moved one yesterday but now both have gone the same way.
They are fully expanded though.
Reef bloke
01-01-08, 17:17
Probably just suck it and see then,hopefully they wont bail out.The big one i have partially lifted off the skeleton but re attached before i purchased it.Keep the thread updated mate.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=319263
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/aug2002/media.htm
Well 1 of the 2 has now fully bailed out of its base. Still appears to be alive though. Think the other one is going to do the same over the next few days.
Not looking good. Very annoying as they were both doing great.
I've had no ph or temp swings and all my other LPS is tickity boo.
Reef bloke
06-01-08, 18:20
Very odd Craigg,i know there is a chap in the U.S that actually sews the flesh back down to the skeletal base.I think he frags them using the same method.As long as they dont blow away under rocks they may still continue to expand and do well.IS the flesh still expanding?
yep, still look quite normal really.
Reef bloke
06-01-08, 21:58
Fingers crossed for you mate,hopefully they will start calcifying again.
Hi
Not sure if this is the best place to put this, but can someone help me? I bought a cat a week ago and it seems to have settled really well (early days I know). This morning I noticed it didn't open fully then I saw a tiny little crab merrily stomping around on it. I'm sure the crab has come in on it and looks like it 'belongs' with it as the camoflage is perfect. I can't get a pic because it's too small. Does anyone know if there are particular crabs that are associated with these corals and if so are they good or bad? I tried to remove it but it took a nose dive right into the coral - there was no way of removing it without risk of damaging the coral.
Thanks for any help guys.
Sailfin, I've not seen a crab with Cat's before but I suspect it's a harmless commensal. Unless you see it damaging the coral I'd leave it alone - if it turns out to be harmless - bonus!
Thanks Jonesii - ok I'll just keep a close eye on it - the coral is back fully open again and the tiny crab is still merrily stomping all over it so I guess it can't be annoying it that much (and it is a fantastic little beast with luminous pink legs and purple spots)
Cheers
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-01/eb/index.php
This will interest a few of you :)
Just thought I'd post an update after my Clown started to inhabit my Cat :mad: But all is going well between the two, looking forward to getting the new tank set up so I can get a nem and hopefully the clown will then transfer it's attentions to that, rather than the Cat.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t10/justin6823/IMG_3747w.jpg
BOXING SHRIMP
25-01-08, 13:07
Dont worry mate i have a small white crab square shaped thing it is,
It lives inside mine only comes out after lights out, you can clearly see it lives inside the cat but has never brought any harm too it :)
Twistedpro
25-01-08, 13:57
well i have nearly lost my Cat, something has taken to eating it, even night it gets pulled under an overhang, i have bare skeleton on both ends the rest is normal and still inflates. I just wish i could find out what has taken a fancy to it
BOXING SHRIMP
25-01-08, 15:36
If its any good twistedpro ,
i had an Echinophyllia fall off an overhang onto 2 cats
i had been out some time that day ,
and when i got in the Echinophyllia had eaten a full end part off each
a week later all recovered fortunately for the cats
carnt say whats eating yours though buddy
good luck..:) :confused:
Valley Boy
26-01-08, 12:38
Here's some info!www.reefcorner.com/SpecimenSheets/elegance_coral.htm
BOXING SHRIMP
26-01-08, 15:22
Some good advice on the water/flow current
I have 3 bubble tipped ones and two straight tipped ones
so at least according to this info the 3 bubble tipped ones are in an optimum position,
Just need to sort the other two out
cheers mate :)
Wow what an ancient thread that has since ceased.
If I can draw on my experience of Cataphyllia since this thread started:
First one I bought was the very first species brought in by TMC. I had some tank quality issues and the polyp bailled out.
Second one I bought was a deep water indo pacific cat. Red in colour with yellow tips. Got RTN the dreaded disease we were warned about and died in about 3 weeks.
The most recent one I have is from STM, its an aussie again pink tips and doing fine. Bought it in december so far so good.
I wonder now if there really can be that much more to discuss about this. Cats are as common as leathers now, even non specialist marine shops have them.
I've seen Aussie cats placed in BB, on rocks, in sand and all seem to do fine.
If you want to be safe get an Aussie cat, thats the end all I think.
Interested to see how many of the 1st gen tmc cats are doing.
I got my cat around april last year - it has moved tank and been through hyposalinity and not so much as coughed. I think it's one of the Aussie ones also, pink tips. Grows well even without supplementary feeding.
Reef bloke
06-08-08, 14:54
My one from back at the start of the thread is still alive,must be well over a year now but... it partially bailed out due to flow.My big one is still with me.
instantsquid
06-08-08, 14:59
Mine is doing brilliantly - had it around 20 months now and it's growing like crazy. I'll need to re-aquascape it's corner of the tank as when it's expanded it's half way up the front glass!
It's in low light, and low flow, and never gets target fed.
Snowsurfer
06-08-08, 16:27
Mines going from strength to strength too has doubled in size since i got it.
coming up to 2 years with mine now - it seems to have recovered after being set back for a few months due to the attentions of my flame angel (now traded on). Its still a similar size to when I bought it which is fine with me. I hardly ever feed it but it looks happy - is out all day.
how are your cats doing
im trying to see if the disease still exists by way of the different species bar your normal green cats
Reef bloke
10-10-08, 22:23
My little one is almost gone now,partly bailed then withered.Big one is still going although i have seen it look better.
So the general consensus is to place them in the sand bed with low to moderate flow, just enough to get the tentacles to wave and low to moderate lighting.
So best find a nice wee alcove for it then.
Reef bloke
13-10-08, 16:19
It would seem so Granty,same sort of care as a trachy or scolly by the looks of.
http://ochmonek.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/columbo.jpg
I just have one more question I would ask you all that have keep cataphyllia long term:
Are the nemcyscts still firing in the tentacles? Do they grab onto food, are they sticky to touch....
I have a hunch about something
cheers RB, I know the perfect spot for mine!
Andy - loving the Columbo pic!
Reef bloke
13-10-08, 16:33
My one isnt as sticky but will still take food if i try Andy,the little one that has withered would take food to the end although i only fed it once in a blue moon.
im waiting for some more answers on this topic, but I have perhaps have a hunch about them not being able to fire their nemocysts and shutting down to a lower food intake although light intake is ample....
im waiting for some more answers on this topic, but I have perhaps have a hunch about them not being able to fire their nemocysts and shutting down to a lower food intake although light intake is ample....
Hi Andy,
Had mine for nearly a year and tips still feel sticky as from day one. Clown still uses it as host, but it hasn't affected it. Still grabs food, if the clown doesn't steal it first.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t10/justin6823/cat.jpg
blue that looks like an extremelyhealthy speciman
can you tell me what you feed your fish/tank?
blue that looks like an extremelyhealthy speciman
can you tell me what you feed your fish/tank?
Cheers Andy! :)
I feed Formula 1 and 2 pellets, only a small pinch of each! Then I rotate 1 cube of Mysis or Brine + omega 3 or spirilina enriched brine once in the evenings. Once a week I target feed a few LPS (trumpet, blasto, maze) on what ever I have most of. Never fed the Cat though, seems to get what the clown misses.
im a bit worried now!! i spent a lot of money on one yesterday and all i seem to hear is horror stories!! and i really dont want to lose this! i originally put it on the sand but the bottom tentacles seemed all squashed up so its a little bit higher up now see both pics please help! what do you all suggest?http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q4/Photo0106.jpghttp://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q4/Photo0108.jpg
Im not 100% convinced there are rules to keeping these.
So im experimenting with a new one that I bought.
It is on rockwork, directly under lights and in the direct path of a tunze wavebox.
It is expanding and looks fine.
Only time will tell for these...
Hi Guys
I've been away for two weeks and just come back to my cat having jumped ship. By this I mean it is now out of its skeleton and on the deck of the tank about 6" away.
Params as always (note I don't say fine) No change
Nitrate 20, Nitrite 0, Am 0, Ca 490 - 500ish, etc the only really high one is Ca but has always read that since i've had it (nearly a year).
Its a nano tank and params have always been stable (somehow!).
Any ideas why its jumped ship? What do I do with it now?
:thanks:
If the Cat was/is a 1980's/90's specimen or the new wave of harder to keep Cats: it's a new Cat
Water parameters
Temp 25.7
SG 35ppt
PH 8.20
P04 0.01
N02 0.01
N03 5
NH3/4 0.05
KH 6.16
Mg 1400
Calc 475
Tank set up/flow/light
1 x 250w HQI 10K plus 4 x T5, 50 x flow, MCE600,
Purple or pink tip cat. Pink (see picture)
How long the specimen survived I bought it 10 weeks ago, so mid October
Positioning: I first positioned it in the LR but low down, I have since moved it to the sand bed, roughly in the same position under the lights.
General observations: It was only 50% out at the LFS, and when I introduced it to my tank it quickly came out and was what I thought 100% out within 24hrs. I have since moved it after say first 4 weeks and it took some time to come out to this full, maximum size, and in fact it is still to this day coming out more and more.
Feedings: Twice per week with Mysid, Artemia via target method.
Condition/appearance of the coral during its demise: It's very healthy today
Treatments that helped: No treatments administered
Anything else of value: I have noticed that parts of the Cat are slightly brown. This has happened after about the first 3wks or so. It doesn't seem to be getting any worse.
I bought this Cat as a "Coral Farm Bred" version and my LFS said it would be much hardier than many he has seen recently.
Original colour 24hrs after purcahse:
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q4/DSCF3495.JPG
Original Position in LR:
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q4/DSCF3496.JPG
New Position on Sand:
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q4/DSCF3624.JPG
i will have to get round to writing one of these but i've had mine for about 2 months now and after a few initial worries is the star of the tank looking absolutely stunning at the moment and seems to be growing at an astonishing rate! it's HUGE now i think im going to have to make some rock adjustments for it soon
Hi Guys
Anyone any ideas about my earlier post? The cat is still alive and still actually looks fine just no skeleton on it now.
Anyone?
Hi Guys
Anyone any ideas about my earlier post? The cat is still alive and still actually looks fine just no skeleton on it now.
Anyone?
i remember reading this a while ago i would have thought it would have been long gone by now? seems very strange and never heard of this happening!
i would imagine it will develop a new skelton as it grows now?
Has anyone ever considered the Aleopathy angle that may or may not have an effect on Cats. Reason being I've just installed a large red Acro frag into my tank. They must give off some kina stress enzymes when acclimatising because sure as hell my Cat. did not like it one bit. So could it be (as in freshwater planting) that some corals in close proximity to each other just dont like their neighbours.
Just a pointer The Cat, took on a white spotted appearance and withdrew tentacles somewhat upon the installation of the aformentioned SPS. Comming round now with pretty large waterchanges heavy flow and skimming.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/BiggerC/Picture148.jpg
Just a theory
Regards
BigC
OK I said that in my earlier post that I'd show the colour difference between when my Cat arrived and today,
When it arrived (10wks ago)
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2009Q1/DSCF3495.JPG
Now (this evening)
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2009Q1/DSCF3800.JPG
You can clearly see that the Cat is more brown towards the ends, I'm not sure if this is lack of light ?
just received one in a swap for frags ,old equipment etc
ive positioned it on the sandbed 2' deep tank but under 150w halide should i move it over to more shaded area?
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2009Q1/catalaphyllia 003.jpg
position bottom middle
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2009Q1/catalaphyllia 002.jpg
just gone in the tank late last night looked just like this in lfs as well
advice needed please
Just got my first cat a couple of days ago. Its in a nano at the mo awaiting movement to my trigon when its set up. Its currently resting i a crevice on a piece of LR near the bottom of the tank under 2x18w PC T5's. It opened up within minutes of being introduced and last night when i squirted it with brineshrimp it grabbed them with it tentacles and actually stuck the tenticles into its mouth to recieve and eat the shrimp. This pic was taken a few hours after introduction and has since opened up quite a bit more. Shall i place it in sand when it moves to the trigon or leave it on rock?
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj287/jordlr/Fish%20tank/IMGP1125.jpg
I would say that they are fine on a rock, where I have mine at the moment.
Sand can irritate the tissue and cause recession.
aquacultured cats are fine here but deepwater cats need to be placed elsewhere.
instantsquid
27-02-09, 12:44
I would say that they are fine on a rock, where I have mine at the moment.
Sand can irritate the tissue and cause recession.
aquacultured cats are fine here but deepwater cats need to be placed elsewhere.Bizarrely that is the opposite of where they naturally occur - mine is sat on the sandbed and doesn't seem to mind getting sand on the tissue at all. They are lagoon creatures and are well adapted to getting sand on them and removing it themselves. What they are not accustomed to is being sat on top of rockwork. JMHO.
Bizarrely that is the opposite of where they naturally occur - mine is sat on the sandbed and doesn't seem to mind getting sand on the tissue at all. They are lagoon creatures and are well adapted to getting sand on them and removing it themselves. What they are not accustomed to is being sat on top of rockwork. JMHO.
?????
Really, they do habit lagoon but sit in huge giant balls, with one big skeleton. When they are grown/harvested they break up the skeltons. While the skeltons sits on the substrate but their is nothing to say that cetain parts of the flesh sit above the substrate and certainly not on the sand. So keeping them on rockwork is doable.
The one above is defintely a lagoon dwelling species.
Spoke to quite a few divers who have seen them like this.
Deepwater ones are on the substrate and they are used to detritus and crap falling on them as well as a reduced amount of flow.
Lagoon cats still get a decent amount of flow to get rid of detritus.
There is always the risk that with a reduced amount of flow that cats need in the home aquarium, when they recede at night any detritus/getting into their skeleton can irritate the flesh.
Thats my though anyway
Here you go
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-01/eb/index.php
search for "In contrast, the very few colonies of"
the one similar to the one above is from the fringing reef/lagoon which are on harder reef substrates. while not straight rock these seems to suggest they are used to not having sand/silty condtions.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2009Q1/010_6.jpghttp://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2009Q1/011_5.jpghttp://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2009Q1/my tank 002_2.jpgelegance coral plus 2 frags http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2009Q1/005_9.jpg
Holy crap! That thing is huge! :eek: Never seen one that size before...not in a captive tank at least.....
i have had mine just over a month BUT i have blue tips? is this from tmc?
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2009Q1/k6.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2009Q1/k5.jpg
Thought I would join in on this as I have just taken delivery of a cat this week.
* If the Cat was/is a 1980's/90's specimen or the new wave of harder to keep Cats? IT IS FROM TMC
* Water parameters? PH = 8.3, CA = 410, PHOS = 0.008, AMM = ZERO, NITRITE = ZERO, NITRATE = <20, MG = 1380, ALK = 9.6.
* Tank set up/flow/light? 300 LITRE 4 FOOT TANK, 8 AQUARAY LEDS (6 MARINE WHITES & 2 REEF BLUES). VORTECH MP40W SET ON REEF CREST MODE.
* Purple or pink tip cat? PINK
* How long the specimen survived? ONLY HAD A FEW DAYS!
* Positioning? END OF TANK AS FAR AWAY FROM VORTECH AS POSSIBLE
* General observations. VERY NICE! STILL QUITE SMALL.
* Feedings? ?? N/A ??
* Condition/appearance of the coral during its demise? HASN'T YET!
* Treatments that helped? N/A
* Anything else of value. BOUGHT FROM CORAL CULTURE AND DELIVERED VIA POST.
I am very happy with how it looks and it has settled in very well and was fully extended within an hour of being placed in the tank. I would like to know where it originated from though so will try to find out. ;)
Couple of pics....
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p211/brinno/DSC01480.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p211/brinno/DSC01481.jpg
hecticheron
24-04-09, 08:08
I've had my Cat for a couple of months, it was doing well and expandng massively. Yesterday it didnt expand much, and this am the flesh looks kinda bloated. There seems to bits of tissue sloughing off it. Is this the start of a demise? Is there anything I can do? It's been feeding well on prawn, mussel and mysis.
Karen
I don't know that much about cats but if it has been so healthy for a couple of months I would try and not panic too much. I suppose it could be having an off day!
Thought I would join in on this as I have just taken delivery of a cat this week.
* If the Cat was/is a 1980's/90's specimen or the new wave of harder to keep Cats? IT IS FROM TMC
* Water parameters? PH = 8.3, CA = 410, PHOS = 0.008, AMM = ZERO, NITRITE = ZERO, NITRATE = <20, MG = 1380, ALK = 9.6.
* Tank set up/flow/light? 300 LITRE 4 FOOT TANK, 8 AQUARAY LEDS (6 MARINE WHITES & 2 REEF BLUES). VORTECH MP40W SET ON REEF CREST MODE.
* Purple or pink tip cat? PINK
* How long the specimen survived? ONLY HAD A FEW DAYS!
* Positioning? END OF TANK AS FAR AWAY FROM VORTECH AS POSSIBLE
* General observations. VERY NICE! STILL QUITE SMALL.
* Feedings? ?? N/A ??
* Condition/appearance of the coral during its demise? HASN'T YET!
* Treatments that helped? N/A
* Anything else of value. BOUGHT FROM CORAL CULTURE AND DELIVERED VIA POST.
I am very happy with how it looks and it has settled in very well and was fully extended within an hour of being placed in the tank. I would like to know where it originated from though so will try to find out. ;)
Couple of pics....
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p211/brinno/DSC01480.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p211/brinno/DSC01481.jpg
Well I am about a month in now and the cat seems very happy! No signs of it retracting (except at night!). I have not adopted any kind of regular feeding regime but it does get passing fare when I feed the fish. Colours are vibrant and tenticles continue to extend massively during the day. Long may it continue! :thumbsup:
Reef bloke
18-05-09, 12:25
Excellent mate!!!
Ive still got my big cat,its had a few up n downs but its still with me touch wood.
If the Cat was/is a 1980's/90's specimen or the new wave of harder to keep Cats : New wave cat...
Water parameters: 0, 0, 15 calcium 420, magnesium 1300, temp 25c, SG 1.025
Tank set up/flow/light : 130L , 4 x T5 luminaire, very low flow area
Purple or pink tip cat: 5 mouths.. Pink tip , 9 inches across, nothing lese lives on my sand, so the cat has the whole sand bed to stretch out on. :D
How long the specimen survived : 2 years with previous reefer, 5 months with me so far..
Positioning: On the sand, full light as i'm on T5's not halides...
General observations: It inflates its body about once a month for a few hours. It used to scare me when it did it as i believe inflating is a bad thing. However i now believe that it is a cleaning mechanism to remove debris from itself and also possibly a defence mechanism to protect itself (it did it once after a coral fell off a rock and landed very near it )
It never stays inflated for more than an hour or so and only does it every few weeks...
It also has the ability to move itself slightly, by pulsing water outwards, i like it facing forwards, so i can see all its mouths... it likes facing sideways... and over a period of days it can turn itself sideways again even whhen i've put it facing forwards... It won and is now permanenty sideways on to the tank.
Other observations... it hates lots of flow and will hide.
Feedings: no direct feeding.
Condition/appearance of the coral during its demise: No demise yet, fingers continue to be crossed.
Treatments that helped. NA
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa65/t1gerbee/elegancefull.jpg
(sailfin is no longer in this tank, was only in there to grow out a little and is now in my big FO tank...) :)
Quick update. My cat is still going strong and looking good. The only observation that I can report on is that due to a minor outbreak of diatoms I decided to increase the output from my Vortech to improved flow around the tank, and although I also moved the pump higher up in the tank, I think that the increased flow has caused it to retract a little. Not a lot but certainly noticeable. A couple of my trumpets also dislike the higher flow but it will be interesting to see if these corals adapt long term as I don't intend on slowing the Vortech down again. Maybe a compromise can be found! :rolleyes:
Other than that, it's business as usual!
Norvern Rob
09-06-09, 22:10
I bought a small one at the beginning of this year (around 4" extended). Since then it has doubled in size and looks great, it's in the vat at the moment though so hopefully it will be ok!
Quick update..... had mine 1 1/2 years now, Clown still living in it.....
gutted about the tank scratches :(
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t10/justin6823/IMG_4938.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t10/justin6823/IMG_4949.jpg
Quick update..... had mine 1 1/2 years now, Clown still living in it.....
gutted about the tank scratches :(
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t10/justin6823/IMG_4938.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t10/justin6823/IMG_4949.jpg
Blue, thats a gorgeous pic...
my clown does the same thing. Doesnt bother the elegance at all for some reason...
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa65/t1gerbee/clowningaround2.jpg
:thumbsup:
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa65/t1gerbee/elegancefull.jpg
(sailfin is no longer in this tank, was only in there to grow out a little and is now in my big FO tank...) :)
Thats one of the most stunnin cats iv'e seen mate. I love it. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Thats one of the most stunnin cats iv'e seen mate. I love it. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
thanks very much, i loves it. Got it off another reefer, been with him two years, and me now 7 months. :D
I finally moved my tank today and in the process put in a depper sand bed to accomodate my cat. It seems to love the difference as ive never seen it so expanded and happy looking. This is under an aquaray reef white bar too....
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj287/jordlr/_MG_2064.jpg
Bought my cat from mailordercorals not sure where they got it from?
* If the Cat was/is a 1980's/90's specimen or the new wave of harder to keep Cats: Not sure, does anyone know? Long tentacle purple tip
*
* Tank set up/flow/light: 45L with HOB filter, phosphate reactor, 35x flow (cat in lower flow) and 4 x 24w HO T5 lighting, two of which are actinic
* Purple or pink tip cat: Purple
* How long the specimen survived: Had it for 6 weeks
* Positioning: Sandbed, but the skeleton is propped up on an old turbo shell to keep all tissue off the sand
* General observations: Comes out in full everyday, sometimes even stays out all night
* Feedings: Mysis once a week
* Condition/appearance of the coral during its demise: n/a
* Treatments that helped: n/a
* Anything else of value: n/a
Pic:
http://i933.photobucket.com/albums/ad174/Luke_Skyballer/cat.jpg
Anyone know about the origins? New TMC? mailordercorals just says from Australia.
Harrison916
25-07-09, 21:55
If the Cat was/is a 1980's/90's specimen or the new wave of harder to keep Cats New Wave - one of the latest TMC ones though
Water parameters Ca=440 Alk=12.5 No3=5 Ph=7.9
Tank set up/flow/light SPS reef, gentle flow (in this position), 150W 14K + 2 x 54W T5Actinics
Purple or pink tip cat. Pink - highly flourescent green oral disk
How long the specimen survived 6 months and still going - considerable increase in size during this time.
Positioning 20 inches from surface, middle of 2 halide bulbs
General observations This coral expands massively when happy and acclimated well. It needs space. Currently not touching other corals so no sweepers have formed at this time.
Feedings Very occasional feeds of mysis are accepted.
Condition/appearance of the coral during its demise n/a (did retract heavily and found a nudibranch, removed and over 7 days came back to original condition)
Treatments that helped n/a
Anything else of value - flow approximately x 40/50 times turnover
Here's a picture of mine:
http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/rr136/harrison916/DSC01848.jpg
http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/rr136/harrison916/DSC01851.jpg
From TMC
Water parameters: alk 7.7dKh, cal 420, mag 1350, phos 0, nitrate 0
Tank set up/flow/light: 1m * 0.6* 0.6 tank. 6 * 39W T5
Purple or pink tip cat.: Pink Tip
How long the specimen survived: Have owned for 5 months and still growing well
Positioning: in sand
General observations: odd shaped tentacles (see pic) it has always looked like this
Feedings: twice weekly w/ mysis, cyclopeeze, brine shrimp and copepods
Condition/appearance of the coral during its demise n/a
Treatments that helped n/a
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2009Q4/cat_1.jpg
shotley reef
10-02-10, 17:18
Sorry no photos with this, but here goes anyway:
Ny Cat was bought from STM I think in 2006
Water parameters - Alk Varies around 7dkh, Calcium 430, Magnesium - not currently measured, Phos 0, Nitrate less than 5ppm, Temp 76celcius,
Aquarium - 72 x 24 x 30, reasonable but indirect flow pulsing, KZ 6 x 80w lights, but was under 250w MH before.
Tips colour - pink
This coral has grown greatly in size from when bought. It is positioned on rocks raised above the scattering of sand in 28inches of water. The coral expands down over the rock. Some nearby hairy mushrooms caused some retraction but these have now been moved and the coral is now fully expanded all day long.
No direct feeding but food passes over it, I did try direct feeding at first with some success until the fish sussed what was going on.
During last summer, the tank had three 250w MH which raised water tepmerature into the 90's C. The Cat showed no ill effects even when two Acros and two Hammers sucombed.
I am now considering adding another Cat but have read previously about problems with health when adding another.
I think we can conclude from this thread the new cats are far more hardy!
Good luck with them all, I've yet to have one die on me yet.
I think we can conclude from this thread the new cats are far more hardy!
Good luck with them all, I've yet to have one die on me yet.
i'd say so, mine's still with me a year on and doing well, it's had a pen knife fall straight through it when it slipped off the tank brace bar, so i'd say very hardy!!
shotley reef
11-02-10, 09:21
Sorry no photos with this, but here goes anyway:
Ny Cat was bought from STM I think in 2006
Water parameters - Alk Varies around 7dkh, Calcium 430, Magnesium - not currently measured, Phos 0, Nitrate less than 5ppm, Temp 76celcius,
Aquarium - 72 x 24 x 30, reasonable but indirect flow pulsing, KZ 6 x 80w lights, but was under 250w MH before.
Tips colour - pink
This coral has grown greatly in size from when bought. It is positioned on rocks raised above the scattering of sand in 28inches of water. The coral expands down over the rock. Some nearby hairy mushrooms caused some retraction but these have now been moved and the coral is now fully expanded all day long.
No direct feeding but food passes over it, I did try direct feeding at first with some success until the fish sussed what was going on.
During last summer, the tank had three 250w MH which raised water tepmerature into the 90's C. The Cat showed no ill effects even when two Acros and two Hammers sucombed.
I am now considering adding another Cat but have read previously about problems with health when adding another.
Ooops, I just re read this and saw a schoolboy error with the tenperature, I did mean fahrenheit not celcius, 76 celsius would be very hot and I think the cat would have struggled at that temperature:D
I think we can conclude from this thread the new cats are far more hardy!
Good luck with them all, I've yet to have one die on me yet.
Hmmm....dont speak so soon, mine is not doing very well at the mo :( It started retracting and receading about a month or 2 ago and i thought it was a total gonna. I did have a cyno bloom at the time which has thankfully gone now. Any relevance i dont know. ive now moved it from the sand upto the rockwork being closer to the lights with a little more flow and it isnt getting any worse so fingers crossed it will recover. It was my favourite coral too so will be gutted if it snuffs it.
Hmmm....dont speak so soon, mine is not doing very well at the mo :( It started retracting and receading about a month or 2 ago and i thought it was a total gonna. I did have a cyno bloom at the time which has thankfully gone now. Any relevance i dont know. ive now moved it from the sand upto the rockwork being closer to the lights with a little more flow and it isnt getting any worse so fingers crossed it will recover. It was my favourite coral too so will be gutted if it snuffs it.
I dont think that was related to the catalphyllia disease
I owned a Deepwater Catalaphyllia at one point(pure red with yellow tips) and that just dissolved away, forget receding!
This thread was set up to understand if the newer cultured catalaphyllia contracted a similar disease.
Over the last few years, I've seen cat placed in many different lighting/flow/substrate and all seemed to have done fine with a much higher sucess rate than before.
So I would think it may be related to tank conditions more than anything.
Ah i understand. No it dosnt seem to be suffering from any form of disease as far as i can see but then without seeing it first hand i wouldnt know. How quick did yours 'disolve'?
Its just a bit strange that it seems to be suffering now. Its been kept under the same lights and flow for the last 14months or so since i got it and it seemed perfectly happy. Infact the only thing that has really changed is that ive installed a skimmer and phosphate reactor to improve the water quality but this actually seems to have had a negative effect on my cat :confused:
It might be circumstantial but we'll see what happens from here on.
this may have already been posted on this thread but look at this.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-01/eb/index.php
mine dissolved in about 3 days, very sad to see as I never saw another cat for sale like it.
this was a lovely thought by UR for the UK to put this resource but as I mentioned I think in most respects about 80% of the captive bought cats now wont have this problem
in comparison a few years back 80% of captive bought cats HAD this problem.
Mine certainly hasnt gone down hill that quickly but the symptoms in the article you linked do sound very similar
'which causes the colony's oral disk to swell, with a fringe of unexpanded tentacles (Figure 4). In many cases, a white opaque mucus-like web is present (Figure 5). Feeding responses decline and tentacles are no longer “sticky” or able to easily capture prey items, even non-motile particulate material. The coral's tissue eventually shrinks, and the colony dies'
I haven't noticed a white mucus but my colony definitely swelled up before starting to recede, its tentacles are shorter than they were before (they were never massive) and it doesn't seem to feed anymore or manage to hold onto its food when i target feed it. They've lost their stickiness as the article describes. It may not be the same thing but have a look at the before and after pics below and make your own mind up. The first one is a year ago when a first acquired it, the 2nd about 6 months ago at6 its best, the third is now.
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj287/jordlr/Fish%20tank/IMGP1125.jpg
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj287/jordlr/_MG_2064.jpg
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj287/jordlr/cat1.jpg
Bought my cat from mailordercorals not sure where they got it from?
* If the Cat was/is a 1980's/90's specimen or the new wave of harder to keep Cats: Not sure, does anyone know? Long tentacle purple tip
*
* Tank set up/flow/light: 45L with HOB filter, phosphate reactor, 35x flow (cat in lower flow) and 4 x 24w HO T5 lighting, two of which are actinic
* Purple or pink tip cat: Purple
* How long the specimen survived: Had it for 6 weeks
* Positioning: Sandbed, but the skeleton is propped up on an old turbo shell to keep all tissue off the sand
* General observations: Comes out in full everyday, sometimes even stays out all night
* Feedings: Mysis once a week
* Condition/appearance of the coral during its demise: n/a
* Treatments that helped: n/a
* Anything else of value: n/a
Pic:
http://i933.photobucket.com/albums/ad174/Luke_Skyballer/cat.jpg
Anyone know about the origins? New TMC? mailordercorals just says from Australia.
My post on my Cat, had it in my 45L Nano with 4 x 24w T5's an koralia nano for 7 months now, has grown a new mouth and in size and has been through some up and down water params and has never faultered. :)
I definately think newer cats are much tougher than before.
I bought a cat about 3 days ago. Will post a pic sometime. It certainly seems good at the moment. I have given it one dip a day in some melafix at 10ml/l for around 10mins as a precautionary measure against ECD. This is based purely on some anecdotal evidence cited by Bob Fenner that it helps in this respect. Hopefully it never had it in the first place, but I want to give it the best chance possible.
One thing I have noted, reading through the entire 22 pages of this thread is that the ones that seem to be thriving are those that don't get fed often/ever. Is this a fair conclusion?
I bought a cat about 3 days ago. Will post a pic sometime. It certainly seems good at the moment. I have given it one dip a day in some melafix at 10ml/l for around 10mins as a precautionary measure against ECD. This is based purely on some anecdotal evidence cited by Bob Fenner that it helps in this respect. Hopefully it never had it in the first place, but I want to give it the best chance possible.
One thing I have noted, reading through the entire 22 pages of this thread is that the ones that seem to be thriving are those that don't get fed often/ever. Is this a fair conclusion?
id agree with that,mine never gets feed [targetted]ive had mine 2 yrs its now 10-12"across with my clowns hosting
mine gets fed about once a month if that with some mysis as i stopped for the most part feeding my tank when i got rid of my sun coral.
CRUSTYCLAM
21-02-10, 09:39
I've had mine 3-4weeks now and its looking good
If the Cat was/is a 1980's/90's specimen or the new wave of harder to keep Cats:- Don't know
Water parameters :- Nitrate 0.02, Calc 410, ALK - 8-10dkh, mag 1290 - 1320, temp 26.5, will a small amount of fluctuation, phosphate 0.03 (but going down)
Tank set up/flow/light: - 4xTMC Marine White HD Tiles, 2xReef Blue TMC 500 strips, 2xMarine Blue TMC 500 strips, gentle flow over elegance
Purple or pink tip cat:- Pink
How long the specimen survived:3-4 weeks
Positioning: On sand Bed.
General observations:- coral base is white, and cut very straight, prehaps indicating not taken from silty areas
Feedings:- None direct, but due to flow, brine shrimp and mysis tend to drift and get caught on tenticles
Condition/appearance of the coral during its demise:- Still ok
http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af149/CRUSTYCLAM/Marine%20Photos%20-%20Jan%20%20-09/cat_under_blues_2.jpg
Normal lighting:-
http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af149/CRUSTYCLAM/Marine%20Photos%20-%20Jan%20%20-09/cat_tank_shot_2.jpg
meganlovescowfishes
28-02-10, 19:06
This is a picture of my cat, i have had it a couple of weeks and am really nervous :unsure:
I must say I am constanly checking her and have used as much advice from this thread and other sorces to place her properly. fingers crossed this will be a sucess!! :)
http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww174/meganlovescowfishes/121-1.jpg
http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww174/meganlovescowfishes/123-1.jpg
Here's mine...sorry about the unseemly cyanobacteria when these were taken :P
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4094/4953261565_539a02763c_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4146/4951265033_251a094796_b.jpg
Bought it 3-4 months ago so not over the six months limit yet. It was shipped through the post as a small frag and has since double in size. I'm note quite sure what is it's origin. One funny thing though is half of it has some really nice long lean tentacles and the other half have shorter stubbier ones. It has pink tip instead of purple but I think that depends on lighting.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4088/4951817904_74e7a271e7_b.jpg
you get two different kinds of general species, catalaphyllia picata and jardenai(sorry spelling might be off)
but essentially the picata has stubby tentacles and jardenai has the longer ones :)
i think as i posted earlier this year cats are doing fine now if they are part of the new stock and not the dodgy deeper water ones
Hi all,
I have no pictures at the moment (I'm skiving at work! tee-hee) but I have a cat that has recently stopped opening up to its old proportions. Admittedly the flow has been changed a little in the tank by repositioning my spray bar, but the biggest difference I have is that my refugium is going really well since I set it up in June.
Whilst all the other corals seem happier and the water quality has improved (though it was never lacking before, maybe only with a little nitrate) the cat is the reverse.
It still shows its tentacles (its the short kind) but the mantles never extend more than a cm or 2. It still accepts mysis.
It is placed on the sand bed and has nothing that could sting it nearby.
Has the better water quality and change in flow adversely affected the coral do you think? I know they dont like high flow so it is sheltered from the choppy areas.......
thanks in advance
i find the cat to be the first one to sulk if any parameters change quickly, low nitrates are certainly not a problem, albeit corals do need some to survive if your other corals are fine i dont think this is the cause
meganlovescowfishes
25-09-10, 21:44
Hi all,
I have no pictures at the moment (I'm skiving at work! tee-hee) but I have a cat that has recently stopped opening up to its old proportions. Admittedly the flow has been changed a little in the tank by repositioning my spray bar, but the biggest difference I have is that my refugium is going really well since I set it up in June.
Whilst all the other corals seem happier and the water quality has improved (though it was never lacking before, maybe only with a little nitrate) the cat is the reverse.
It still shows its tentacles (its the short kind) but the mantles never extend more than a cm or 2. It still accepts mysis.
It is placed on the sand bed and has nothing that could sting it nearby.
Has the better water quality and change in flow adversely affected the coral do you think? I know they dont like high flow so it is sheltered from the choppy areas.......
thanks in advance
the only time my cat ever sulks is if the phospahte remover needs replacing or the clowns have bothered it too much. nitrates have never really bothered it.
I have read also that bristle worms can iritate their tissue, any large ones lurking? could anything else be bothering it (non-coral wise)
actually I have noticed my smallest hermit hanging around it - I even caught it on the edge recently... sounds like he's causing it grief in some way... :mad:
meganlovescowfishes
03-10-10, 16:35
Well my cat has been moved to a fellow reefers tank as whilst on my holiday a 'friend' house stitting decided to tip a whole tub of flake into my reef and turn all my pumps off. consiquencly my perams went throught the roof! :mad:
I can home to my cat hiding in its skeleton. It has been at my friends for a few days now but has started detaching.... i guess due to the bad water froom my tank and stress :( :cry:
My tank now has no corals what so ever in it and the demise of my cat is absolutley devistating! i loveed her so much ..... i had her a year, not long enough :(
My Cat pulling one of my many starfishes as food!
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1437/5178333058_e081e085c5.jpghttp://farm2.static.flickr.com/1310/5178349560_de1faf87c8.jpg
(starfish is on bottom right!)
Hi all, :)
Thought I'd post this even though i don't have a cat at present. This was back in the very early 90s when my knowledge was limited.
If the Cat was/is a 1980's/90's specimen or the new wave of harder to keep Cats 1990's Cat
Water parameters Temp 26.5 Ca 420ppm Mg 1250ppm SG 0.030:o due to faulty hydrome', NO3 15 to 25ppm:o PO3 0ppm
Tank set up/flow/light Mixed mini reef with to speices of caularpa growing rampant, Low flow, T8s x5 2act 3 white Hmmm???????????
Purple or pink tip cat. Pink tip long tenticles.
How long the specimen survived 2 years sold back to shop when broke tank down, Was always expanding and growing slowly.:applause:
Positioning High centre
General observations Seemed as easy to keep as the bubble that it shared its tank with.
Feedings Lance fish and anything meaty every 3rd day
Condition/appearance of the coral during its demise N/A
Treatments that helped N/A
Anything else of value Always dosed Coral-vite and additional iodine
Once I've set up a couple more holding tanks i will purchase a couple and let you know how i get on. My reef conditions are so much better now they're bound to die on me.:laugh:
Mark.
Bought my cat from mailordercorals not sure where they got it from?
* If the Cat was/is a 1980's/90's specimen or the new wave of harder to keep Cats: Not sure, does anyone know? Long tentacle purple tip
*
* Tank set up/flow/light: 45L with HOB filter, phosphate reactor, 35x flow (cat in lower flow) and 4 x 24w HO T5 lighting, two of which are actinic
* Purple or pink tip cat: Purple
* How long the specimen survived: Had it for 6 weeks
* Positioning: Sandbed, but the skeleton is propped up on an old turbo shell to keep all tissue off the sand
* General observations: Comes out in full everyday, sometimes even stays out all night
* Feedings: Mysis once a week
* Condition/appearance of the coral during its demise: n/a
* Treatments that helped: n/a
* Anything else of value: n/a
Pic:
http://i933.photobucket.com/albums/ad174/Luke_Skyballer/cat.jpg
Anyone know about the origins? New TMC? mailordercorals just says from Australia.
Had this guy for 1 year 7 months and it's still going strong. Been with me through the ups and the downs.
Pretty sure cats are no harder to keep than any other common lps.
P.s. Man has my tank changed since then! LOL ..from 45L and hob filter to 500L + 100L sump plumbed in. :)
Looking at getting a cat, there isn't that much room on substrate so thee is a ledge lower than half way in my tank but there might be to much flow ? I have an rsm130 with a 3200 in the main part of the tank and a 1600 lph downturn the back of the rock work
If the Cat was/is a 1980's/90's specimen or the new wave of harder to keep Cats - New
Water parameters Excellent
Tank set up/flow/light - 10k s Sequence & T5
Purple or pink tip cat. - Purple tip
How long the specimen survived 4 to 5 Mths
Positioning - On sandbed
General observations - This was/is a cracking specimen probably 8" wide
Feedings - Aqualabs - Cyclopeze - Mysis etc
Condition/appearance of the coral during its demise Still has colour and swells up but tentacles are now down to nothing over three days
Treatments that helped. Nothing yet, removed to frag tank and given RX pro dip
Anything else of value. Will take picture of the cat now in the morning.
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj313/the_gooner_2008/Corals/IMG_6765.jpg
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj313/the_gooner_2008/Corals/IMG_6766.jpg
Here it is today
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj313/the_gooner_2008/Corals/IMG_0002.jpg
Thank you guys for this thread...well i want to ask if anybody experienced this?
Small white strings out ot mouths over its own flesh...?!?
Thanks,
http://i.imgur.com/mesQi.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/T8omA.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/1A6hQ.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/qhzgN.jpg
Not sure something is eating it or it is bacterial...
http://i.imgur.com/d3Uge.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/WwGbW.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/qIftb.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/K18lR.jpg
Elegance Coral
11-05-11, 01:00
The "small white strings" are mesenterial filaments. (The corals guts, or digestive structures.) They are often used to do battle with other corals, or in self defence. Do you have any large soft corals close, or up stream, from the Cat? Can you post an up to date FTS? When was the last time you did a water change, and what % was it? Do your run carbon?
The "small white strings" are mesenterial filaments. (The corals guts, or digestive structures.) They are often used to do battle with other corals, or in self defence. Do you have any large soft corals close, or up stream, from the Cat? Can you post an up to date FTS? When was the last time you did a water change, and what % was it? Do your run carbon?
EC you are just right on time, thank you for responding...
It was getting worse day by day, so today i just decided to look at Cat closer and in one of the holes i've found a gallcrab with its eggsack.
It's female i guess, then i inspected more and nothing more outside the Cat. Could there be a male too?
I have a small "devilshand" like 20cm away from it before it was so healthy. Now it is away from it ,in half-shade and getting less flow...
http://i.imgur.com/c7Qaz.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/6sDEs.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/cs2Nn.jpg
She was here...
http://i.imgur.com/xC8XY.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/aXLj3.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/h0h76.jpg
I make water change weekly %10, every saturday. I am running ROWA Carbon...
FTS ?
Elegance Coral
11-05-11, 17:24
FTS = Full tank shot. A picture of the tank viewed from the front.
Gall crabs are hideous looking critters, but I don't believe that's your problem.
Do you know where the coral was collected? Indonesia or Australia?
Ok i these are before and after photos...you mean coral crabs are totally making no harm ? or just a myth ?
I cannot guess, but according to its shape i say it's Indonesia...(it has just one crack-tip at the back, no frag-marks...
http://i.imgur.com/h5yeU.jpg
Before
http://i.imgur.com/W7kIi.jpg
After
Here its shape and crack-point...
http://i.imgur.com/AoiKw.jpg
Thanks...
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