Polyps on Heliopora or lack there of

[SherryS]

Heelo~
Brand new to this forum. Let me introduce myself. My name is Sherry and I have been keeping fish since I was a little kid (minnows from a nearby creek for first wetpets) My reef tank is a 75 gal. around two years running now. My lighting is 220 pc. Upgrading next tax season to metal halide. OK I have this new heliopora and it seems healthy (color) But, it's been three days at least since I have seen any polyps. It has been producing alot of mucus covering. I have helped out with the shedding witha turkey baster. I dont know if this is whats irritating it. I have this coral placed in the top of rockwork with strong current. Is it typical for this soft coral to remain closed for so long? Thanks in abvance for any insight.
SherryS.

 

[Len]

Heya Sherry,

I'm gonna move this to the General Reef Discussion where you'll get more exposure and where this thread is better suited for

Heliopora (blue ridge coral) really isn't a soft coral (Alcyonacea) nor is it a stony coral (Scleractinia). It belongs to an entirely different order of cnidarians called Coenothecalia. It's one of those "freak" species that doesn't taxonomically have any close siblings, the closest probably being Pipe Organ Corals. Just making sure you identifying the right species: Heliopora is actually rigid and has a blueish cast because of the blue skeleton it lays down. Does this describe your coral accurately?

This genus is generally regarded as pretty demanding, requiring high light levels and clean water. When it isn't happy with the ambient conditions, sometimes it'll close up and produce excessive mucus like your experiencing. However, a lot of corals (especially leathers and finger leathers of the genus Sarcophyton and Lobophyton) will frequently close up for days and expel a lot of mucus as a shedding process. This rids the top layer of skin from bacteria and algae that may have grown on it. Your coral might be doing this. Truthfully, it's hard to tell if it's just doing it's natural thing or if it's upset. I would give it at least 2 weeks before concluding it's unhappy. In the meanwhile, using a turkey baster to help shed mucus is a good idea.

I hope you and your coral well. Happy holidays, and update us on how it does in 10 or so days. If it's still unhappy, you can either try a water change or trade it back to your store for credit. Heliopora isn't the easiest coral to keep It's not impossible to keep in captivity, but I actually avoid the temptation of buying them myself.

 

[Carpentersreef]

Hi Sherry,

I've had a heliopora for about 4 years, and I've seen full polyp extension once for a period of about 3 days.... :?
The coral continues to grow, and I've stopped concerning myself about the lack of polyp extension.
In the picture below you can it's encrusting growth, and somewhere in there is a snail that fell in about a year ago and has been grown over.
The coral area is about 12" in size now.

Mitch

 

[Anemone]

YEah, I got Heliopora as a hitchhiker, and it took me a long time to identify it....try telling people you have a stony coralk that has polyps with 8 tentacles...they'll tell you that octocorals aren't stony (unless they're familiar with helio).

Anyways, as mentioned above, it can go through long periods without polyp extension. I had quite a few periods when I had no polyp extension for many days, and more when only a few polyps were extended.

Good luck.

Kevin

 

[Carpentersreef]

There is also an important consideration that I don't see emphasized too often - mixing corals in the same tank. (like we all do!)
With all the water tests we can do, we can't really test for the chemical warfare that goes on between corals. (especially "softies") In our relatively small systems, these compounds can build up and affect other coral growth/advancement and I imagine polyp extension.
We could run carbon continuously, but unless you run enough for your size system, and change it ever 3 or 4 days, it's not going to make a big difference, given how slow corals grow.

Always keep in mind how little water your corals are living in now, compared to where they came from.

Mitch

 

[liquid]

That's always been one coral I've wanted a frag of. I might have to hit Tropicorium and get a frag of it.

Shane

 

[Carpentersreef]

Too bad you didn't live closer...
...and in the same country..lol..

I've set the coral now so that it will grow up the glass so I can see the blue skeleton underneath one day.

Mitch

 

[liquid]

DOH! Oh well. Plus it's stinkin cold here too. I don't like shipping livestock when the temperatures are this cold in Ohio. Thanks for the offer tho!

Shane

 

[Carpentersreef]

Yup. sounds like we'll be down around -30c here by the weekend, too.
(Calgary, Alberta)

8O

Mitch