The utilization of oyster eggs as a coral food was first discussed in 2003 with a biologist in Vancouver, BC who had developed methodology to extract the eggs in quantity. Later that summer, oyster eggs were tested as an aquarium coral food.
Oyster Eggs as a Coral Food Source
Oyster eggs are approximately 40-50 microns in size; they are soft and very nutritious being high in protein and omega3 fatty acids.
Size is a very important consideration when feeding corals. Oyster Eggs are from ½ to 1/3rd the size of a rotifer, approximately 1/8th the size of an Artemia nauplii and 1/20th the size of cyclopeez™.
Corals for which this food is particularly useful are those with poor prey capture responses and those with very small polyps. Included are Porites, Montipora, Goniopora, gorgonians, soft corals, and the oyster eggs even show success with the maintenance of previously difficult or impossible to maintain azooxanthellate soft corals and seafans.
Small polyp stony corals such as Porites, Montipora,
Pocillopora and Acropora feed on very small particles.
Some corals that have been described as very difficult or impossible to feed are now being kept by regularly feeding them oyster eggs.
Alveopora and Goniopora have been found
to need a lot of feeding to do well in captivity.
Target feeding with very small particle foods is best for these corals.
There is evidence that
these corals may also benefit from being fed phytoplankton..
Gorgonians and sea fans feed on very small particles. Even sea fans and
Gorgonians
without zooxanthellae have been thriving on a diet of oyster eggs and
phytoplankton
DT’s Natural Reef Diet is kept frozen
Available in 3 sizes:
30 ml (1 oz), 100 ml and 500 ml
Feeding recommendations:
Frozen oyster eggs can be dispersed into the water column to feed most small mouthed stony corals, sea fans, gorgonians and soft corals that feed on small particle food. Target feeding with a pipette is also effective to feed targeted corals.
To ensure the complete uptake of the oyster eggs, turning off the protein skimmer for at least an hour when feeding is highly recommended. Protein skimmers will remove oyster eggs and waste at least some of this food. One suggestion is to have your skimmer set up on a timer to be off for several hours when feeding.
1 ml will feed a highly populated 50 gallon (189 liter) aquarium. The label directions recommend a feeding amount of 1 ml (1/5th tsp) for a 50 gallon or larger aquarium. This amount may be taken as an incremental dose of 1 ml per 50 gallons or more. Hobbyists must use their own judgment in calculating an amount per feeding for their aquarium. Greater amounts can be fed with additional benefit without nutrient issues, especially once the skimmer is back on.
Night time is the best time
Corals are feeding on small particles at night when zooplankton is normally raising up into the water column. To take advantage of this natural cycle oyster eggs can be fed after the lights are turned off. Alternately, some corals are active by day and night, and they can be fed at any time.
Target feeding is best for Goniopora
One recommended method
1. Cut the bottom off of a soda bottle and use it to isolate the area around the Goniopora while feeding. Remember to clean the bottle by rinsing with water. Do not use soap or any other cleaning solution.
2. Mix a very small amount of oyster eggs in aquarium water to make a suspension and feed through the top of the bottle. This will concentrate the food around the targeted coral and protect it from fish that may pick at and damage the coral while trying to get at the food. Remove the bottle after the coral has time to feed. How much time can only be estimated, so use your own judgment.
Nutritional Profile:Moisture: 80 %
Protein: 7 %
Total Fat: 2.49%
EPA: 14.8 % of total fat
DHA: 9.64 % of total fat
Fiber: < 0.2%
Ash: 2 %
The remaining 8 % is calculated as carbohydrates
