armor of the gods curly q'ish skirt...normal?

[the Undone guy]

Hey everyone,

My armor of the gods is finally starting to take off, but the main polyp is getting quite large and the skirt frillies (not sure of the correct term) are getting really long and curling like curly q french fries. I was just wondering if this was normal or not:

Also it seems to be stretching upwards, does that mean it doesn't have enough light? It's about 1/3 of the way up in a 20" deep solana cube under a 150w MH light and an actinic stunner strip. All of my other zoas are doing amazing and since this one is sprouting new polyps I figured it was fine as well, I just wanted to make sure =) Thanks!

(ugh how does one change the size of the picture displayed here?)

 

[mallorieGgator]

Mine are starting to curl too so I think it's normal. You may want to move yours up just a bit as it seems they are reaching up to the light a lot. They look good! Congrats on them starting to take off!

 

[kichimark]

+1 with Mallorie. Usually when a zoa stretches like that it needs more light. When did you replace the bulbs last? I used to have those polyps and they curled the skirts as well. Where do you have it flow wise?

 

[the Undone guy]

+1 with Mallorie. Usually when a zoa stretches like that it needs more light. When did you replace the bulbs last? I used to have those polyps and they curled the skirts as well. Where do you have it flow wise?

The bulb should be less than 8 months old (I got it used so I am unsure of the precise age). It has moderate flow, I have a vortech MP10 so it varies.

 

[kichimark]

The bulb should be less than 8 months old (I got it used so I am unsure of the precise age). It has moderate flow, I have a vortech MP10 so it varies.

Might be time for replacing. I never really trust used bulbs myself. How are the other corals doing?

 

[the Undone guy]

Might be time for replacing. I never really trust used bulbs myself. How are the other corals doing?

everything else seems to be doing great. my other 2 colonies of zoas are multiplying, my sps are growing as well.

 

[A. Grandis]

It's a sign that it needs more light, yes.
Gradually change the zoa up or buy new lights.
If you keep the zoas with low light will be harder to change in the future.
The more time with the low light, the worse to adapt to better, brighter light.
Be careful with the changing. Good luck.
Grandis.

 

[raceface87]

mine are like that too but without the extension. just slowly bring urs up and it won't extend as much

 

[Japsican]

All the ones I've seen look like that...But everyone else is correct about the stretching/lighting issue.

 

[Scopus Tang]

I've found that longer/taller polyps in both these and Devil's Armor are common, and they typically grow best in this state. However, as the others said, you can move them up under higher lighting and the polyp will shorten, they also become pinker in color, and for me at least, the growth rate slows. The curly tentacles on the skirt are typically a result of higher flow, and are also quite common.

 

[the Undone guy]

I think it's location was just a tad too shaded. I moved it out into the light a tad to a position lower in the water column and it shrunk to a normal length within a day or so. Thanks for the tips everyone

 

[Mr. Winters]

ive found that long skirts form when the zoas are in more flow and slow flow leads to tiny skirts.

 

[SIR PATRICK]

^ Agreed, with many types of polyps.

 

[SIR PATRICK]

My Gobstoppers and Devils Armor both have curly skirts.

 

[650-IS350]

normal.