Did I overfeed my corals last night

JT101 · 01-09-2008, 03:39 PM

Last night I got a little overly generous and hand-fed each and every polyp on my palythoa colonies and sun coral a nice piece of defrosted silversides. After I fed the sunny you could actually see the individual pieces inside the stem of the polyps (fish eyes and all

)! I also fed my open brain two full complete silversides and it gladly took them all in

!

This morning all seemed well, but all the sun coral polyps (now retracted into their daytime hiding "shells") appear puffy and inflated. The brain coral looks like it's about to explode!

Did they all eat too much? Do they even KNOW when they have eaten too much, or is that my responsibility?

Thank

BigAl07 · 01-09-2008, 03:49 PM

In my experience (take it for what it's worth) they wont over eat. My corals will eat and eat and when they are done they will either refuse more or literally spit out what's left. I only feed corals "directly" 1x or 2x a week max.

BigAl07 · 01-09-2008, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JT101

....This morning all seemed well, but all the sun coral polyps (now retracted into their daytime hiding "shells") appear puffy and inflated. The brain coral looks like it's about to explode!...

I have ONE word for ya

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GAS!!!

JT101 · 01-09-2008, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigAl07

I have ONE word for ya

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.
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GAS!!!

LOL!!!!

I guess I better leave a window open in the living room tonight when my corals all "let one rip"

!!

JT101 · 01-09-2008, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigAl07

In my experience (take it for what it's worth) they wont over eat. My corals will eat and eat and when they are done they will either refuse more or literally spit out what's left. I only feed corals "directly" 1x or 2x a week max.

Hey Al

,

Thanks for the replies. Does this also apply to sun corals? I have often seen it written here or there that they need to be fed EVERY DAY. Is that really the case? Will they starve otherwise? Of course, I realize that now that they have all eaten a huge chunk of silversides they will be full for a while, but I normally just target them some defrosted Cyclop-Eez with a SeaSquirt. How often am I "really" supposed to do that?

Thx
John

vdituri · 01-09-2008, 11:25 PM

I don't believe you can over feed them. I've seen my candy canes spit out a silverside they couldn't engulf. If they can fit it in, they will digest it. Eventually.

With suns it depends on your normal feedings for the tank. They will catch alot of leftovers from the water column. Better safe than sorry trying to overfeed them. The worst case scenario is you get a bit of algae and a bigger healthier sun coral.

01-09-2008, 03:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
JT101 Neon dottyback Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Hicksville NY Posts: 605 View Gallery Karma Komment	Did I overfeed my corals last night Last night I got a little overly generous and hand-fed each and every polyp on my palythoa colonies and sun coral a nice piece of defrosted silversides. After I fed the sunny you could actually see the individual pieces inside the stem of the polyps (fish eyes and all )! I also fed my open brain two full complete silversides and it gladly took them all in ! This morning all seemed well, but all the sun coral polyps (now retracted into their daytime hiding "shells") appear puffy and inflated. The brain coral looks like it's about to explode! Did they all eat too much? Do they even KNOW when they have eaten too much, or is that my responsibility? Thank Last edited by JT101 : 01-09-2008 at 04:22 PM. Reason: spelling

01-09-2008, 03:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
BigAl07 Reef Addict (hopeless) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 10,613 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Did I overfeed my corals last night In my experience (take it for what it's worth) they wont over eat. My corals will eat and eat and when they are done they will either refuse more or literally spit out what's left. I only feed corals "directly" 1x or 2x a week max. __________________ Allen Allen's testimonial . . ."Let Me help you help YOURSELF" (Click Here) with a SW set up there is one basic fundamental rule that we ALL should follow *When in doubt... wait it out. This means take it slow and let the tank "develop" and don't rush it. Time is your friend Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef Reef Balls & Cakes Debt Free & Change your Family Tree!!

01-09-2008, 11:25 PM	#6 (permalink)
vdituri Excellent Guesser :D Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Sacramento California Posts: 5,719 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Did I overfeed my corals last night I don't believe you can over feed them. I've seen my candy canes spit out a silverside they couldn't engulf. If they can fit it in, they will digest it. Eventually. With suns it depends on your normal feedings for the tank. They will catch alot of leftovers from the water column. Better safe than sorry trying to overfeed them. The worst case scenario is you get a bit of algae and a bigger healthier sun coral. __________________ Victor ----- People come into our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person. When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

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