Trachyphilia communication skills...

[Modo]

I recently purchased a nice red and green Trachyphilia. I read in E. Borneman's book that the red strain come from more subdued lighting than the green. I placed it low in the tank under an overhang to start acclimation to my lighting.

My question is how do I know if/when this guy is needing more light? Will the coral swell or stretch out like some other corals do?

I currently am running a 250w 6500k MH and 40w of NO actinic 10" over my 29g (18" depth).

[ February 18, 2002: Message edited by: Modo ]</p>

 

[Brad Ward]

Modo,
They will indeed stretch and grow big when they are starved for light and are usually don't expand as much when enough light is given. This species is definately a predator, so feed it often.

hth,

Brad

 

[Modo]

Thanks Brad,

When you say "don't expand as much" would you say you can see the skeletal structure? I'm little scared of bleaching the guy out. Especially after that pic on E. Borneman's article I just read in Advanced Aquarists.

I actually fed it the first night in my tank. I acclimated it with just the flourescents on. It immediately extended its "feeders". It got a nice chunk of my Bubble's cocktail shrimp.

 

[Brad Ward]

The skeletal structure should never be evident in a healthy specimen. They just don't feel the need to make their fleshy parts expand a lot because they are getting enough light. If you have ever seen a DAS tank that just has NO flourescents over it, you can see how big they can stretch.

Brad

 

[MIKE NY1]

I have a ROB and a GOB both seem to better in the sand and a good current. The GOB likes stronger light and sits in a pile of sand on the rocks. The ROB sits in the sandbed. If the feeder tenticles come out everynight that is a good indicator that they may not be getting enough nutrients from the lights alone. I haven't fed mine in months because the tenticles don't come out to grasp food. They are nice and full during the day and deflate at night.

Mike

 

[Modo]

Thanks guys.