Caring for a struggling bubble coral

[finleyd]

I recently picked up a bubble coral, and initially, it seemed to be in good health. However, the transportation process didn't exactly go smoothly, and by the time I got home, the bag was filled with detritus. Not sure what happened there, but the coral was definitely worse for wear.

That was Tuesday, and now it's Friday - just three days later. I'm happy to report that it's looking better. Here's its current state:



The polyps are extending, albeit slightly, which is a positive sign. For now, I'm just giving it some space and letting it recover. I'm curious to see how it'll progress over time.

Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[brixo]

I'd keep an eye on it for a bit longer, see how it goes. If you suspect some flesh was damaged during transport, an iodine bath or coral dip might help prevent infection. Just my two cents.

[finleyd]

I'd keep an eye on it for a bit longer, see how it goes. If you suspect some flesh was damaged during transport, an iodine bath or coral dip might help prevent infection. Just my two cents.

Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it. I'll definitely keep a closer eye on the flesh, especially in those sections that look a bit dubious. The flow in that area seems to be a bit too strong, so I'm guessing that might be part of the issue, but I'll just have to wait and see how it progresses.

[floralpup]

I've had success with feeding mine small amounts of food - it's helped with growth. Pellets seem to work particularly well, my coral's really taken to them.

[BankoLite]

Bubble corals aren't huge fans of strong currents like euphyllias, and they can be quite particular about their surroundings - I've seen them stretch out in some pretty unusual ways when the flow's just right. They can be a bit finicky, but with stable conditions and a good spot, that one should make a full recovery.

[finleyd]

Thanks everyone for the advice and encouragement. I'm really glad I decided to just let it be, as it seems that's exactly what it needed. Woke up this morning and I was thrilled to see the improvement - it's really perked up and looking much healthier. I guess sometimes the best approach is indeed to just give it time and space.

[brixo]

Glad to see the bubble coral's on the mend. Appreciate the update, finleyd.