Can torch corals sting and kill fish??

[luke1234]

As above guys
Been reefkeeping for over 25 years and over the past 4 years I have built up a good collection of anampses wrasse.
Over the last few months I have lost 8 anampses 2 tangs and a few others.
Sometimes i have found my wrasse lying on the sand bed acting dazed and lethargic.
Water params are perfect and there is no sign of disease and no.new fish added for 6 months or more.
I was asked at my lfs if I had anything that could sting them and I have a torch coral that I have had for over 8 months that has become huge.
They say this is a possibility but I cannot find much info online.
Any advice greatly appreciated
Kind regards

 

[heritage]

I don't think so. I have a huge torch as well and the fish constantly swim around it. I don't think the sting is strong enough.

What kind of torch ?

 

[ThRoewer]

I would say yes. They have nematocysts like anemones and can even sting anemonefish, so they should definitely be capable of stinging other fish. Many corals actually use sweeper tentacles to keep the competition at bay.
But I don't think that they have the same stickiness as anemones and are not very likely to actually catch and kill larger fish.

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[lgtentacle]

They can definitely kill smaller fish (damsel/goby sized), but would only kill larger fish (tangs/wrasses) if the fish swam into a large torch coral and was stung by a large number of tendrils. Sometimes that happens with the more skittish fish when they are startled.