Strange elegance coral behaviour?

[droog]

Hi,

I have quite a large elegance coral in my 120g tank. It's about baseball size during the day (shrinks somewhat at night).

Very rarely the coral seems to "hyper-inflate". It did this when first introduced to the aquarium and I noticed it a couple of weeks ago.

Wondering if this is normal behaviour, or possibly a sign of distress (or happiness?)

-droog

 

[saltyair]

Could be a few things - check for flat worms. Also being on rock work might be damaged.
these corals should be on the sand bed

 

[droog]

The LFS that sold and introduced this coral into the aquarium for me told me this "hyper inflated" state meant the coral was "super happy".

Turns out most of the things they did were wrong, and much of the advice they gave me was bogus. I don't use them any more, wanted to check the validity of their assertion.

Its been almost a year in its current position and seems to be relatively happy. I learned that its supposed to be on the sand bed just recently but not sure whether it would be better moved or left where it is...

-droog

 

[shesacharmer]

Try less flow. They retract their tentacles if they get too much. It needs to feel like it can "relax" and go with the flow.

 

[cloak]

IMO, this might be an attempt to move on it's own. Fungia corals are known to do this on occasion. When they inflate like that, it doesn't take as much wave active to move the coral small increments at a time. (especially if it was on a sand bed)

 

[lllesley]

hi ya. mine does this too. Not often but very occasionally. I have tied it into water changes. When I do a large change he does this also. I came to the conclusion it was super happy too ?

 

[Sk8r]

CHeck alkalinity and calcium---just in case.

 

[droog]

Alk steady between 8.5 - 9.5 dKH and Ca 400-450, Mg 1350

 

[droog]

hi ya. mine does this too. Not often but very occasionally. I have tied it into water changes. When I do a large change he does this also. I came to the conclusion it was super happy too ?

Same here. Mine did this for some time when first introduced to my tank - 120g of fresh Red Sea Coral Pro water post-cycle. Only seen it a couple of times since then, both times within 24 hrs of a PWC. Possibly happened when the water was a little cooler than usual too?

Interesting how little we really know about these things. Perhaps he's "unhappy" rather than happy. Trying to move is an interesting idea.

I could relocate mine to the sandbed now I know this is the natural habitat. But the coral seems to be thriving where he is (and is so huge I would need to rearrange the entire tank in order to give this one a home in the sandbed).

Thanks for the feedback people

-droog