Plate coral question

[mmarro99]

I've had this plate now for 8 months. Sometimes it gets super puffy like this. Looks like it's going to freaking explode lol. Is this a good thing? Anyone know why it's doing that?

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[Maggie321]

I don't have one, but my understanding is these will inflate themselves to clean debris from their top.

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[ali1]

Ditto

 

[MrsReefK]

Yup! They're pretty neat. Inflate up quite a bit. Ours actually moved across the sand almost 2 feet around the front of an island over about 3-4 nights and has stayed in the new spot for about a year now.


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[reef cuber]

Don't these guys send out stingers? I thought they needed about 6" of clearance. (Just asking because he has lots of neighbors)..

 

[shaggydoo541]

I've always had my plates pretty close to other corals, and as long as they aren't directly touching, things work out. It is normal to puff up like that, and is actually healthy from what I've seen. The only plates I've had that didn't make it never displayed this puffing behavior at night. My favorite plate will get huge nearly tripling in height every night putting out tentacles, in the day it almost looks like a skeleton compared to the night look.

 

[MrsReefK]

Mine puffs up like that as well. Had it almost 18 months. It actually moved itself about 12-13" from where I put it overnight. Did NOT expect that, apparently they can move... haha. I didn't read that anywhere before I purchased.

Since moving, it's stayed within its new spot.


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[AlSimmons]

Like mentioned above inflating like that can be a way of relocating itself. It makes it much easier for a strong current to move it a few inches in that state as opposed to a deflated skeleton. There have been a few reports of the coral actually walking too. One half will inflate then the other and so on and so forth. Puffing up like that also increases the surface area making it much easier for the coral to capture food from the water column.

 

[mmarro99]

Wow lots of great info thanks guys! I really hope it never decides to move though really doesnt have where else to go other than on top of corals lol. Glad it's healthy though. Makes me want to get another one

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