Angry acan...what is this?

[zibba]

I picked up a new acan a few weeks back and it was looking great (super puffy, eating, etc.) and just recently it started getting that "I'm angry" retracted look. It just doesn't look 100% and I noticed these small bumps just below the main heads. The other acans and corals generally are looking very good. Anyone know what's going on?

This is when it was first added to the tank about 3-weeks ago:


Now (sorry, took the picture last night as the LEDs were ramping down and wanted to get a close up):



Thanks,
Z

 

[evolved]

Looks like it's simply budding to me?

 

[Shrimpcity]

those are baby heads growing

 

[zibba]

I thought so too, but it's been 100 years since I've had acans and forgot if they retracted for an extended period of time when they do that.

 

[Reef_Knight]

Looks like it's simply budding to me?

What's that mean?

 

[zibba]

What's that mean?

Babies!

Thanks for the confirmation guys.

 

[coralreefjunkie]

Congratulations! Cigars for everyone!!

I have been researching about acans a lot, ever since I bought a nice one from Carlos/Aquarius several weeks back. I read that the parent polyp(s) retracts/shrink briefly to allow the babies to form and obtain its energy from light and water currents. They will puff back up once the babies can extend out to get their light and food. It's amazing how their genes are programmed to do that; each polyp innately knows how to do this as a matter of survival...

 

[zibba]

Cool stuff, thanks or the info! Seems like that's exactly what's happening here. This one (and all of my acans, actually) came from Carlos.

 

[azkass]

Feed them lots and you will see many buds