What was my zoanthus coral doing?

snorkeler · 10/18/2009, 04:56 PM

Hello, I just observed (and photographed) one zoanthus colony doing something I had never seen it do and of which I neither saw any picture here. Must be quite common, but since I'm a little worried, will ask you if you know what is going on.

Looked at it and some polyps were closed but one was inflated like a ball:

Shortly after I took the picture (5 min?) it returned to normal, which is like this:

The colors are different because the second picture is without flash.

Then it closed like this (which I've seen it do many times):

And afterwards returned to normal again.

Any idea of what it was doing? I didn't do any feeding or anything else in fact for this to happen.... and I had never seen it like that before (ok, it has only been with me for a week, but....). Thanks.

Snorkeler

scuba guy ron · 10/18/2009, 05:18 PM

seems like it is acclimating (adjusting)to your tank conditions. Something may also be iritating them. Some zoanthids will close even if they feel a fish swim by or from the vibrations from your footsteps going through the tank when you walk up to it.

snorkeler · 10/19/2009, 07:14 PM

Today I caught my other colony doing the same.... it was after the lights were reduced in intensity (10PM).

The coral looks very unhealthy in this compact dark form. Is this normal?

snorkeler

imcosmokramer · 10/19/2009, 08:01 PM

How long has your tank been up?

snorkeler · 10/20/2009, 07:42 PM

Slightly more than 2 months. Water is stable, not cycling. Zero amonia, nitrites and 20ppm nitrates, pH 8, Alk 1.7 meq/l.

Tank was started with water from the LFS's main tank.

snorkeler · 11/07/2009, 04:23 PM

Update, the polyp that was black in the picture is dead AFAIK... see below:

You can also see the aiptasias growing on the rock....

10/18/2009, 04:56 PM	#1
snorkeler Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Brazil Posts: 250	What was my zoanthus coral doing? Hello, I just observed (and photographed) one zoanthus colony doing something I had never seen it do and of which I neither saw any picture here. Must be quite common, but since I'm a little worried, will ask you if you know what is going on. Looked at it and some polyps were closed but one was inflated like a ball: Shortly after I took the picture (5 min?) it returned to normal, which is like this: The colors are different because the second picture is without flash. Then it closed like this (which I've seen it do many times): And afterwards returned to normal again. Any idea of what it was doing? I didn't do any feeding or anything else in fact for this to happen.... and I had never seen it like that before (ok, it has only been with me for a week, but....). Thanks. Snorkeler

10/18/2009, 05:18 PM	#2
scuba guy ron Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 1,455	seems like it is acclimating (adjusting)to your tank conditions. Something may also be iritating them. Some zoanthids will close even if they feel a fish swim by or from the vibrations from your footsteps going through the tank when you walk up to it. __________________ Ron Current Tank Info: 6yr old 37 Gallon Column mixed reef

10/19/2009, 08:01 PM	#4
imcosmokramer Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 1,709	How long has your tank been up? __________________ You can agree with me, or you can be wrong. You pick.

10/19/2009, 07:14 PM	#3
snorkeler Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Brazil Posts: 250	Today I caught my other colony doing the same.... it was after the lights were reduced in intensity (10PM). The coral looks very unhealthy in this compact dark form. Is this normal? snorkeler

10/20/2009, 07:42 PM	#5
snorkeler Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Brazil Posts: 250	Slightly more than 2 months. Water is stable, not cycling. Zero amonia, nitrites and 20ppm nitrates, pH 8, Alk 1.7 meq/l. Tank was started with water from the LFS's main tank.

11/07/2009, 04:23 PM	#6
snorkeler Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Brazil Posts: 250	Update, the polyp that was black in the picture is dead AFAIK... see below: You can also see the aiptasias growing on the rock....