Brain Coral

[Jon Boy]

Hi All

I decided to move a finger coral today, it was fully extended and obviously doing well, just did not like its position. I moved it near a red and green open brain coral. I looked at the tank about 1 hour later and the centre of the brain coral had extended (and turned white) to cover the outer red part and was displaying small polyps, the leather and surrounding xenia and mushrooms had all closed up. I moved the finger coral and within 30 minutes it was once more extended and the brain coral also assumed its normal state.

Did I witness the brain coral defending itself, was it stinging the others? or was it issuing a chemical into the water as some of the xenia and mushrooms were at least 4 inches away yet still closed.

Comments please.

[dan-the-man]

Moved to corals :)

[bony]

most of my open brain corals open when i feed the fish and just after lights out. i am not sure if it was defending itself more likly it became active because you moved detritos and spured it into feeding.

[fishflop]

I agree. Mine will "transform" like you explained, but only when it is feeding. The tentacles around it's mouth become visable when it is trying to pull food into it's mouth. Otherwise, he lays there as happy as a clam...or brain coral.

[Jon Boy]

I have seen it feed in this way before, but never expierenced other corals closing as if they were unhappy. Now the finger is away from the brain coral all the others including the finger have returned to normal, hence my question as to whether it was in defence mode.

Regards
John

[pipatic]

i had a finger coral touch one of my open brains ,the little tenticles came out and was stinging,or trying to eat the tip of the finger ,