Sun Coral

[ADAM26]

What is the best way to feed a sun coral and how many times?

Cheers

[car1os]

What is the best way to feed a sun coral and how many times?

Cheers

with One of these From Jasons aquatics, A NEB feeding Cup, I feed Mine 3 times a week M8
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s221/carlos-de-jackel/post-24-1185309776_thumb.jpg

[Tetley]

Hi,

A cheaper way:

Get a 2ltr plastic bottle (wash well), cut third down from neck opening, place this over the sun, use turkey baster to squirt food down neck of bottle, the sun can eat in peace - everyones a winner. :)

HTH

[evilervin]

Hi Adam,

What is the best way to feed a sun coral and how many times?

IMO, the 'best' way, or should i say my perfered way; is to simply use a turkey baster to deliver food directly to each polyp... this works great if fish / shrimps aren't stealing from the coral.

If other 'tank mates' are bothering the coral and nicking its food, then the most effective method is to use a cut down drinks bottle (one wide enough for the coral to fully expand with out touching the edges), as Tetley mentions.

As for how many times to feed....
If its a Black sun coral (which are normal green), IME and IMO you must feed EVERY day.
If it a yellow / orange sun coral I would advise that you feed every 2-3 days.
As general rule of thumb; Feed as often as you can, without polluting the water.... or increase the frequency you perform partcial water changes, to keep parameters in check.

There was a wee thread asking how often people feed their sun corals a few weeks back... http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=213735

HTH
Roger

[ADAM26]

ok cool cheers guys :)

Now when do i feed it? as its not open very much? do i have to wait for it to open up :o

[P.A.D]

Now when do i feed it? as its not open very much? do i have to wait for it to open up :o

They usually open up during the hours of darkness, but can be 'trained' to open during the day.

If you use the plastic bottle method, then just squirt some food in so that it gets the scent of it. This should encourage it to come out. If its a newly purchased specimen it will take a while for it to learn, however the more this is done the quicker it will pick up on it.

Eventually just the wiff of some food in the tank will have it out ready and waiting.

Phil:)

[ADAM26]

Cheers :thanks:

[evilervin]

Hi adam,
Now when do i feed it? as its not open very much? do i have to wait for it to open up :oIt may be worth you clicking on the banner in my signature:whistling:…

But to answer your question;
For a Tubastraea sp. (sun corals) to feed (and poo) the polyps have to be open.
You can coax them to open by gentle wafting some Cycolpeeze, Coral vibrance etc across the top of the corallites (the tubes). Within 5-15 min you should see at least some expansion. If the polyps are struggling to open, IE just the mouth appears or just the tips of a few tentacles, you can coax them further by very, very gently sticking a mysis (or similar, ***Not Brine Shrimp***) directly to the slightly exposed tentacle or mouth.

(On page 3 of the link in my sig, there is a tiny bit more info on coaxing, just ignore the bit about flow… unless you have a black sun coral [T. micrantha])

Once the polyps are readily accepting food (it may take anywhere from 1-2 days to a week or so), feeding will become a lot easier as the corals health improves. The polyps will expand fully making ‘prey’ capture possible, which mean you wont have to literally stick the food to the polyps, IE you can use the ‘top hat’ method (the cut down drinks bottle or ‘feeding cup’) or use a turkey baster to release the food where the tentacles can ‘catch’ it.

If you are struggling for info on sun corals click my banner below (as suggested above).
Also, if you do a search on UR using the search term Tubastraea, you will find lots of posts relating to the care of sun corals…If you get bored of trawling though the posts, and you still have queries, or are having problems, please feel free to ask.:)

HTH
Roger

[damianandrew]

take advice great guy roger knows his stuf when it comes to sun corals