Another coral id

C_THRU_U

New member
OK- I commited the cardinal sin and bought a coral without researching what it was. I haven't been able to find it anywhere on any of the forums. It is a softie with tenticles like a Xenia but it can contract them in. When they are all contracted it looks kind of like a tongue sticking out of the sand. Also, it is supposed to be in the sandbed. In fact, today it actually barried itself. The LFS told me it was non- photosynthetic but I ? if the guy knew his stuff. Does this sound familier to anyone or do I have to take a picture of it? (after it comes out)
 
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Sea Pen. It is a soft coral that has something like a "foot" that it uses to bury in the substrate (the "foot" is actually the coral's primary polyp; the other polyps are secondary and branch off the first one- the biology of these critters is pretty cool when you get into it). Really interesting corals, but they rarely do well in captivity. They need a very fine substrate. Many are nocturnal filter feeders, but if yours is open during the day, chances are decent you have a photosynthetic species (a good thing). Offer lots of food in either case, and plenty of sand for it to anchor itself into. FYI, its a soft coral, but it can wander through the substrate, more like you would expect an anemone to do.
 
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