Rehabilitation Journey of Dying Ricordea Corals

Previously Dying Ricordea Corallimorph Fully Rehabilitated

When I saw a rock at my local fish store with two dying Ricordea corals bleached to practically zero color, I knew I had to try to rehabilitate them.  

Intake: Acclimation, Inspection, and Dips

Bleached, Retracted,  and Dying Ricordea Corallimorph

Upon arriving at my home, I worked through my typical inspection, dip, and quarantine processes on these two dying Ricordea corals. Although hard to tell, this retracted Ricordea coral was nearly colorless (bleached) (March 14, 2012), but there was fluorescence. The mouths weren’t gaping, and the corals were intact (no damaged tissue). The bleaching severity led me to react to these corals as an “urgent” situation. The “usable diagnosis” (I’m not a medical professional, but this helps me create a care plan) was bleaching due to high light. (I saw where these two corals were physically located in the aquarium, so it was pretty obvious that they were receiving excessive light.)

Then, I had to assess the corals’ overall health. Since bleaching is often due to excessive light, wherein the zooxanthallae leave the coral, the coral has an increased chance of starvation. Note that the coral is surrounded by colorful coralline algae, which can typically tolerate higher-light conditions. This particular Ricordea coral was stressed but appeared in relatively good health (not quite starving). However, the other Ricordea (not pictured – I can’t find a photo) was extremely small and appeared on the brink of starvation.

Next, I removed the dying Ricordea corals from the substrate as much as possible to reduce introduction of parasites and nuisance algae. I continued through my dipping process, which included both a hydrogen peroxide-based dip and a CoralRx dip. Afterward, I glued each coral to a frag plug and placed both corals in the quarantine aquarium.

Quarantine: Care and Feeding

Although “soft corals,” like these dying Ricordea corals, can have a higher saturation point (level of light for optimal photosynthesis) and possibly photoinhibition point (level of detrimental light) than their stoney counterparts, they can still get stressed and expel their zooxanthallae.  With proper water conditions and lower light, they will frequently heal on their own.  Supplemental feeding helps replace the energy source previously provided by the zooxanthallae.

Recovering Ricordea Coral

Therefore, the solution for these corals was a healthy tank, low lighting, low flow, and a bit of feeding.  Ricordea are not the most apt to taking food directly, especially when unwell.  But, within a few days, the larger coral was eating well (very very small particulate food.) Once the corals went through 30 days of quarantine, were eating well, and did not have any concerning indicators, I used the dip process again before moving the Ricordea corals into my grow-out tank.

(Coral shown on 13 May 2012)

Bleached and Dying Ricordea Coral

The second Ricordea was not recovering as fast as the larger one, but it was starting to regain color.

(Coral shown 14 May 2012)

Recovering Ricordea Coral

By 22 May 2012, the larger Ricordea coral had almost fully recovered. The smaller one still had a ways to go.

Conclusion: Ricordea Rehabilitation Success

Previously Dying Ricordea Corallimorph Fully Rehabilitated

By 30 June 2012 (only slightly more than three months later), the larger Ricordea was fully rehabilitated. The smaller Ricordea made a full recovery as well.

Bleached, Retracted, and Dying Ricordea CorallimorphPreviously Dying Ricordea Corallimorph Fully Rehabilitated
From bleached to beautiful in only three months!

References:

For more information on light saturation and photoinhibition in corals and clams, see this link. (It’s a bit dated, but it still contains some interesting information.)

Wellsophyllia Rehabilitation

Rehabilitated Wellsophyllia
Wellsophyllia Dying

Wellsophyllia… Trachyphyllia… “What’s in a name?” The jury appears to still be out as the genus has changed a few times over the last several years.

Regardless, this poor coral had asymmetrical bleaching, which is not only unusual, it can be due to an infection (rather than environmental factors, such as light). (10 February 2013)

Wellsophyllia Recession

By 31 March 2013, the bleaching part was dying or dead. But, I had hope, as the bleaching portion was not spreading. The healthy portion of the coral was regrowing over one area of the dead section.

Recovered Wellsophyllia

After only four months (16 June 2013), the coral was essentially recovered!

Rehabilitated Wellsophyllia

And here it is under actinics.

Rehabilitated Wellsophyllia

This could have had a much different outcome. Rather than the entire coral bleaching and dying, we were able to save it with just four months of care.

error: Contact us to request digital rights.