Elegance plate coral

[edandsandy]

Not sure if this is the right forum but...........................
I have a very large Elegance plate coral, every couple of days it seem to swell up appx. 3 times its normal size, it seems to be moving. is this normal? also does it sting?
Here is a picture.

 

[Hormigaquatica]

Plate corals are known for their ability to wander around the bottom of the tank- thats not too unusual actually. However, they move more when something is bothering them, so you may want to check you water chemistry, and watch that no one is picking at it. Also make sure you feed that coral pretty regularly- they tend to waste away. I would offer it mysis or finely chopped fish/shrimp a couple times a week.

As a side point, Elegance Coral and Plate Corals are generally common names for two very different animals. Im betting wherever you got the coral from just made up that name for the heck of it. Not that it matters really. Elegance coral usually refers to Catalaphyllia jardinei; Plate coral is normally a species of Fungia or Cycloseris. What you have is a Heliofungia species. The main reason I point this out is because the three have fairly different care requirements and track histories in captivity.

 

[edandsandy]

Hormigaquatica,
Thanks for your input on it's correct name. As far as I can tell no one is picking at it. It is next to a rock on the bottom of the tank. Do you think it dosen't like the rock touching it?
my next question is does it sting?

 

[Hormigaquatica]

It could be moving because of the rock next to it. Its also possible that the water flow wasnt exactly what it was used to, or the light, etc. It could be any one of a number of reasons really.

They do sting- not as strongly as say an anemeone, but they do sting.