Brain Issues (Welso Brain not my brain)

[90galguy]

I've posted this issue with my welso several weeks ago and I wanted to follow up and see if I can get any opinions. I've seen many posts and there seems to be LOTS of opinions floating around on other subjects, so I thought I'd probably get some on this topic as well.:lol2:

Anyway..............My welso looked great for a couple weeks after I bought him at the swap then soon after retracted back into its skeleton. Kept all its color but was hard as a rock. I've covered him up using a clear tomato container with open slots for flow and he will open up fully. After a couple days I take off the container and within an hour or so he's retracted again. I've moved him to several places around the aquarium and the same thing occurs.

Could this be a flow issue? If so, why would he be so happy for a couple weeks and then this? I don't know if I have a spot with low flow without keeping him covered up.

I don't think anything is picking on him since I work at home and can keep an eye on it most of the day.

Any thoughts????

 

[rskillz]

What kind of lights do you have? When you moved him, did you try shading? Does he puff up at nightime? Maybe the container gives him a bit of shade and he responds. Brains do not like much light at all from my experience. I seem to doubt it's flow unless you have a vortech right by the brain.

The only other guess would be a fish nipping at him, but you say you've kept an eye on em. You could also try a dip of some sort and see if that helps.

 

[90galguy]

Rskillz;763414 wrote: What kind of lights do you have? When you moved him, did you try shading? Does he puff up at nightime? Maybe the container gives him a bit of shade and he responds. Brains do not like much light at all from my experience. I seem to doubt it's flow unless you have a vortech right by the brain.

The only other guess would be a fish nipping at him, but you say you've kept an eye on em. You could also try a dip of some sort and see if that helps.

I have t5's and am actually changing out my stock Deep Blue bulbs tomorrow with new ones I purchased from Jenn this afternoon. I can try moving him to a more shaded area but he seemed fine for the first few weeks which has me confused.

My next step was doing an iodine dip, but each time I cover him he comes back, confused again.

BTW..........the brain's name is Sheldon. Named after the character on The Big Bang Theory. Yes, my wife has named EVERYTHING in the tank!:doh:

 

[rdnelson]

90galguy;763416 wrote: Yes, my wife has named EVERYTHING in the tank!:doh:

Don't feel bad. My 15 year old daughter and I race to see who can name all new fish in my tank. LOL

 

[zavala83]

If you do not have a low flow area you could try to get a base rock and put it next to him creating a low flow area. Worth a shot...

 

[90galguy]

Update: My brain coral was making a full recovery after several days under the protective basket so I took it off and one of my peppermint shrimp immediately jumped on top of it. Now we're back to where we started. Apparently the shrimp have to go! Does anyone see any way around this? If not, they're coming out.

Are there any other reef safe shrimp that I can replace them with? My wife really likes the way they look in the tank.

 

[johniii]

You could get cleaner shrimp or pistol shrimp. post pics of your peps if you can. They might be camel shrimp.

 

[rdnelson]

I don't have a brain (Yes, I know that it obvious from my posts but....) but I do have a Blood Red Fire Shrimp that I love. It has never bothered anything in my tank. The only complaint I have is that he doesn't come out enough. But he is a lot of fun to watch and color is amazing.

 

[90galguy]

Here's one of them.

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[johniii]

Looks like a pep to me. If they have been bad I could but them in with my lion and lunare wrasse.

 

[j_b_]

So, did you end up getting rid of the peppermints, and is the brain doing better now? I've got a Welso too that is going through the same thing. I've got 2 peppermints and a cleaner, but I never see any of them on the brain.

 

[90galguy]

Still the same. About a week ago I removed the plastic cover I use to protect the brain and within a couple hours he completely retracted. I watched close and didn't see anything bothering him. I currently have the brain covered again and it's fully extended and looks very healthy. I'm beginning to think he's getting too much flow, but I'm not sure if that's true. I've moved him to several spots in the tank with the same results.




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[grouper therapy]

90galguy;771290 wrote: Still the same. About a week ago I removed the plastic cover I use to protect the brain and within a couple hours he completely retracted. I watched close and didn't see anything bothering him. I currently have the brain covered again and it's fully extended and looks very healthy. I'm beginning to think he's getting too much flow, but I'm not sure if that's true. I've moved him to several spots in the tank with the same results.




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I'd say it is a fish just picking at it occasionally. Do you have a Rabbit fish of any sort?

 

[90galguy]

I have a foxface, but I haven't seen him touch it. Not saying it isn't a possibility. Are there any types of open brains that are compatible?

I don't want this thing stressed and I really don't think it wants to be covered the rest of its existence so maybe I should try to find a better home?

 

[grouper therapy]

I've had welsos in tanks with way more flow than what is in yours without problems. None of then liked high direct continuous flow. You don't have enough light to stress it especially on the bottom. I will bet a weeks worth of tank sitting on a fish as the culprit.