feeding time

[Cliff]

It’s -30C outside right now, too cold to do anything outside and there is nothing on TV (not that I watch a lot of that). I thought I would feed my corals and take a few pics. I usually feed my mysis shrimp to the corals with mouths (at least mouths that I can feed). I also soak the food with a vitamin supplement.

http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad226/Cliff_Erhardt/Cliff%20fish%20tank%20pics/feedingtime1.jpg

I usually don’t feed this much. I’m used to the tang steeling some food by now so I also feed a little extra so the coral is left with a few pcs. I just put the food on there mouth(s). There mouths are were the color patterns meet at one spot in between the folds

http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad226/Cliff_Erhardt/Cliff%20fish%20tank%20pics/feedingtime2.jpg

The brain will start moving it’s folds in towards the center where it’s mouths are.

http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad226/Cliff_Erhardt/Cliff%20fish%20tank%20pics/feedingtime3.jpg

Once it has pushed the food near it’s mouths, the mouths will start opening up

http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad226/Cliff_Erhardt/Cliff%20fish%20tank%20pics/feedingtime4.jpg

[Cliff]

It’s starts to pull the food into it’s mouths

http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad226/Cliff_Erhardt/Cliff%20fish%20tank%20pics/Feedingtime5.jpg

The mouths are fully open now

http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad226/Cliff_Erhardt/Cliff%20fish%20tank%20pics/feedingtime6.jpg

With the food insides its mouth now, it will start to close it’s mouth

http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad226/Cliff_Erhardt/Cliff%20fish%20tank%20pics/feedingtime7.jpg

Mouths are now closed and feeding is done. There’s just one mouth that is a littler slower than the rest. Total time, 20 minutes



http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad226/Cliff_Erhardt/Cliff%20fish%20tank%20pics/feedingtime8.jpg

[Cliff]

You can also cover the coral with a large pop or juice bottle with the bottom cut out, just to keep the fish and clean-up crew from steeling the food from the coral


http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad226/Cliff_Erhardt/Cliff%20fish%20tank%20pics/DSC05703.jpg

[Goes to 11!]

Cool pics Cliff! Thanks thumbs2:

If this were a movie.. I would so watch it [Hint!]

[kaybee]

Great sequence of photos!

I no longer feed corals as frequent as I used to, but when I did I would feed them at night, some hours after the lights were out.

Most marine fish in the hobby instinctively avoid venturing out in the dark, so feeding the corals at night (for me) removed fish from the equation of stealing or intercepting food. In the dark many corals extend their feeder tentacles which enables them to quickly seize and engulf mysis shrimp and expedite the feeding process.

[Rue]

Excellent! Those are super!thumbs2:

[DrNic]

Great photos!

[Cliff]

Thanks guys

I normal feed these corals once a week, when only the moon lights are on, unless I'm board then I will feed them earlier in the day

Cheers

[KingFisher]

That's really cool Cliff. Great pictures too. thumbs2:

[Cliff]

Thanks KingFisher

[rich311k]

Excellent photos. Pretty looking coral and an interesting process to see.

[CassieLEO]

Very very interesting!! Thanks for posting those. Great pictures as always!!!