How did my lepastrea "jump"?

[Frostyeel]

First off here is the picture

On the left is the main colony and in the center of the photograph are 4+ polyps that have started growing on a different rock. The location where the new polyps are growing is at least half an inch (closer to three quarters) away from the main colony so I'm wondering how did they get there? I have slightly changed the position of the colony a few times but I'm pretty sure it was never touching that spot, and even where the colony is touching another rock right now new polyps aren't forming on the uncolonized rock. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Ephraim]

I've seen Yumas stretch out an "arm" of tissue in order to seed a new polyp a good inch or so away. Maybe some LPS are capable of this as well?

 

[Justin74]

No, this coral doesnt really behave like that. Although I have seen them balloon up to unbelievable perportions under less than desireable conditions, and may possibly be result of polyp 'bail out' its not as likely as it just touching long enough for a piece of tissue to adhere, once it adheres thats all it takes and doesnt even need to be a whole or even partial polyp to do so, but can even start from the smallest piece of tissue and is the most commonly seen. The second and more unlikely cause, it spawned and some may have settled there, but again not as likely.

Nice Lep :thumbsup:

-Justin

 

[Rendos]

Original coral was touching the rock where the new polyps are, it encrusted onto a nearby rock, then the large piece shifted or got moved slightly by a big turbo snail, or something. This makes it look like the new polyps jumped onto a nearby rock. That's my theory.