Hey all...
Okay, I'm worried. I've had some star polyps (which everyone says are easy to keep) for a couple months now, or thereabouts. Two pieces, actually. Also a rock with yellow polyps. Did a 25% water change yesterday (usually do a 10% weekly, did more this time because I've got some relatively new additions in the tank and am trying to keep the water conditions pristine until they become used to their new tank). Temp., parameters all fine. They closed up during the change (usual), but one rock of the star polyps didn't open up afterwards. The other ones did. I waited, but this morning they still weren't open.
I looked at the star polyps; there are little brown, shriveled dead-looking wisps on both pieces, not overwhelming or anything, but unsightly. On the piece that didn't open up, I tried gently with a turkey baster squirting some water at it, and noticed that a lot of silt and gunk came off the rock. I waited, but still it hasn't opened up. Is this normal for star polyps to close up for an extended period of time? Do you think it's dying? What can I do to help it get better, if anything? I've been feeding the tank phytoplankton daily, have plenty of light over the tank, the water is fine; I can't think of anything that could be wrong. Also, my "yellow" polyps look more brown than yellow. I was told they spread fairly quickly, but when I first got them a few died off, the rest have been fine, other than loosing some of their initial yellow coloration.
Any help would be much appreciated!
Okay, I'm worried. I've had some star polyps (which everyone says are easy to keep) for a couple months now, or thereabouts. Two pieces, actually. Also a rock with yellow polyps. Did a 25% water change yesterday (usually do a 10% weekly, did more this time because I've got some relatively new additions in the tank and am trying to keep the water conditions pristine until they become used to their new tank). Temp., parameters all fine. They closed up during the change (usual), but one rock of the star polyps didn't open up afterwards. The other ones did. I waited, but this morning they still weren't open.
I looked at the star polyps; there are little brown, shriveled dead-looking wisps on both pieces, not overwhelming or anything, but unsightly. On the piece that didn't open up, I tried gently with a turkey baster squirting some water at it, and noticed that a lot of silt and gunk came off the rock. I waited, but still it hasn't opened up. Is this normal for star polyps to close up for an extended period of time? Do you think it's dying? What can I do to help it get better, if anything? I've been feeding the tank phytoplankton daily, have plenty of light over the tank, the water is fine; I can't think of anything that could be wrong. Also, my "yellow" polyps look more brown than yellow. I was told they spread fairly quickly, but when I first got them a few died off, the rest have been fine, other than loosing some of their initial yellow coloration.
Any help would be much appreciated!