how to save starving plate coral

[astroboy]

Hello.

 

I've had a plate coral for a couple of months now and in the last two weeks I've realized it's on its last legs. There's very little tissue around the skeleton, to the point where I'm not sure if it can swallow anything. Everything else in the tank is doing well. Looking back, I can't recall it actually eating any of the small chunks of shrimp I've fed it, although at the time I assumed it was doing so. Now I'm thinking it must have been stressed enough that it stopped eating, and now its emaciated enough I'm afraid it can't eat even if it wants to.

 

This evening I shoved a small piece of shrimp into its mouth and so far it hasn't expelled it.

 

Is there anything else I can do, anything to feed it that plates find irresistible? It's really a beauty, I'd hate to lose it.

 

Thanks.

[DDiver]

I say keep feedin it and see if it gets better..

[davelin315]

I know that certain plates have the reputation of not being good in captivity, but have not had a plate coral for years now so wouldn't know enough about them to really be of help. One question, though, isn't shrimp a bit big for a plate coral? I would think that some invert food or some phytoplankton would do better with it along with some good quality water and lighting. Also, where do you have it in your tank?

[astroboy]

I know that certain plates have the reputation of not being good in captivity, but have not had a plate coral for years now so wouldn't know enough about them to really be of help. One question, though, isn't shrimp a bit big for a plate coral? I would think that some invert food or some phytoplankton would do better with it along with some good quality water and lighting. Also, where do you have it in your tank?

 

I try to feed the plate very small pieces of shrimp which will easily fit in its mouth. Its always been on the sand, in a medium current. I had another plate in the same spot which loved it there, so I'm inclined to think the conditions can't be that bad..... (I've since moved that plate to another tank where it continues to do well).

[dbartco]

if it does "die", leave it in there. They have a reputation for looking dead and budding MANY smaller daughter colonies.

[zygote2k]

frisbee anyone?