Sting each other

[Fluppy]

Hey.
Can soft-coral sting each other if they touch? Kenya tree, toadstool or other sinularia or sarcophyton and so?

Thanks.

 

[JoshMO]

They do have stinging cells, but soft corals generally just overgrow each other rather than kill them by stinging. For example, you see big zoa colonies with different types mixed in, but usually 1 dominating type

 

[Fluppy]

Thank for answering
So if a kenya tree constantly touch a toadstool both of them will have their polyps out? but one of them will not continue to grow?

 

[JoshMO]

Some corals dont like touching. Even when they "should" be ok I've heard of people saying they don't do well. One can shade the other from the light can cause it to die back possibly. If you want you can easily just cut off a bit of the Kenya tree and throw it away.. or stick it anywhere .. like your sump if you have one.. and it will probably grow. I think I have 3 frags now from a Kenya tree I got for $20 a few weeks ago

 

[Fluppy]

Thank you JoshMO
That was a good suggestion

 

[Khemul]

Treat Kenya Tree like a small plant. Small pair of scissors and shape it however you want. It doesn't like being cut, but it recovers quickly. You can basically prune them like you would a plant.

It really depends though. If the Toadstool doesn't like movement, then it'll probably be annoyed and at a disadvantage, because Kenya like to shift their branches around. The pace is extremely slow so I doubt it'd cause an issue, but you never know. The Toadstool could be fine with it, or it may not be.

 

[JoshMO]

+1 to Khemul. It really depends on how the toadstool reacts, or what you find aesthetically pleasing.