Keeping a Heliofungia

[smpayne321]

I made a bit of a spontaneous purchase yesterday on what the shop called a plate coral. Being new to marines I've been doing a bit of reading so knew it was going to be a bit more of a challenge than the soft corals I already have.

Reading a coral book, I've identified it as a Heliofungia (it was long tentacles, rather than the short ones of a fungia). From reading up a bit on UR it seems its going to be a bit of a challenge to keep it.

I asked the guy in the shop if I would need to target feed it and he said "Yes, give it some fish once a week".

So the question is, what exactly do I feed it and how often?

How can I tell if its healthy? All its tentacles are extended and overnight it seems to have increased in diameter then shrunk back down. I presume it fills up with water?

Any help appreciated as I don't want to kill it. Although it seems the success rate of Heliofungia isn't good!

Thanks

Stuart

[smpayne321]

Thought I'd give posting a picture a go.

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/DSC00127.JPG

Camera phone pic so not the best quality. Hopefully this works..

Stuart

[ChrisBFish]

We had one of these for a while, but after we started target feeding it, the larger hermit crabs damaged it by trying to get at the food while it was eating, and it never recovered... Hope you have better luck! :) Small (fingernail or less, I think) pieces of fish once a week or so should be ok IIRC, but don't quote me on that! Sorry...