Short Tentacle Plate Coral - happy or not (?)

[Sandee]

So I got this Short Tentacle Plate Coral ... sorry, I'm still in the "point and pay" mode and didn't know much about it at the time. Well, it just looks sorta hard and not alive. From other pictures, it appears the guy should have short tentacles and at least 'look' soft-ish. I had him in my 60g reef for 2 weeks I guess, nothing. Tonight, I placed him in my 12g nano with the Met. Hali. lamp ... and in about 15 minutes HE SMILED AT ME! REALLY! His mouth opened and he smiled!

Now. Is he happy or was that a cry for help? I tried to feed him one tiny piece of Mysis, no go. What do I do next? Again, sorry. These fancy LPS pieces confuse me a bit ...

Here's a live pix from the nano: http://www.sandeeland.com/fishcam

 

[mott768]

Try a silverside, when I used to feed mine I would cut the head off a silverside and put it right over his mouth, I made sure the head was a little smaller than it's mouth and it would always open and take it in. I also had to stand guard with tongs otherwise fish, crabs and shrimp would try to steal it. Now I have it in pretty strong flow and haven't had to feed it in over a year.

 

[blange3]

Same as Tom, but I gave them the whole silverside. Of course it took him longer to eat it and I had to chase the thiefs away a little longer.

I'll have to stop by and check him out tomorrow; he's sleeping.

 

[mott768]

Bill, that's why I used smaller pieces so I didn't have to stand there so long ;D

 

[Sandee]

Ok. Sliversides. Lights on soon.

So I should see some tentacles and everything, yes?

Thanks for the replies!

 

[blange3]

Bill, that's why I used smaller pieces so I didn't have to stand there so long ;D

I know what you mean Tom! Everytime he was just about done, the purple tang would sneek up and start tugging! :

The plate was a great eater and potent stinger. He did my bubble in so I sold him. I might get one in the 180. Not sure as I filled it up more than I expected.

Sandee, so far he looks OK. They get pi**ed off easy when you move them around. Might take a few days for full extension. But if he eats, you usually can feel pretty safe that it's happy.

 

[mott768]

Sandee, mine never really had polyp extension until I moved it where it got strong flow and good light, now it always does.


Bill, they sure do have a potent stinger I almost lost my orange crush acan cause it got too close to it.

I wish I had the room to add another one, I really want the hellfire one from ATL but I would have to get rid of the other one first.