Stylophora behaving strangely

[idua]

My recently acquired Stylophora (Stylophora pistillata) refuses to open during the day but is fully extending its polyps at night. All other SPS are fine. I acclimated it to the tank and new light conditions very slowly. When the coral was introduced to the tank I started at the bottom and kept it there for 4 days than started to slowly move up the rock work. The coral still seems pretty healthy, meaning it did not loose its coloration and the polyp extension (at night) looks healthy too. It is possible that it is still adjusting to my tank? What could be a problem and what can I do/try to help it. (My tank: 30g cube, 10g sump, 250W MH, Calc 425, Alk 9, Amo, trate & trite 0)

 

[MCsaxmaster]

That's fairly normal behavior for that species.

 

[idua]

I am not going to say that I feel really stupid asking this questions yet but do you mean that this is a nocturnal creature and extending polyps at night is normal?

 

[idua]

Anyone else? Any other ideas?

 

[MCsaxmaster]

Yeah. Most corals extend their polyps primarily at night. Sometimes Stylophora will extend their polyps 24 hrs a day, but probably more often they extend their polyps just at night. That's normal behavior for this coral, and most corals.

Chris

 

[6-line]

Is it a wild caught colony? new to the captured environment? In real reefs most sps corals keep their polyps retracted during the day and they emerge to feed at night. In our aquariums they usually but not always remain open 24-7...

My stylo only shuts down when irritated by my moving of it or something similar. Give it a period of break in and it'll extend all the time...

 

[idua]

All of my other SPS corals are open pretty much 24x7 especially my Pocillopora which is never closed. But that puts my mind at ease, thanks.

 

[Kent E]

almost all my corals were extended 24 hours untill I got a emperor. Now they mostly open at night. i guess its a self defense.

 

[ReeferMac]

Good point Kent, if there's a fish-predator around, or perhaps in the corals previous tank?
I've got a couple pieces of Stylo (dunno if they're different species or not, but I'm leaning towards yes), and they both have good polyp extension at all times. I don't have any angels or other nippers, so that too may be a contributor. I have found they are sensitive to water parameters, they do close down whenever I'm doing a water change, but otherwise are rather resillient.

- Mac

 

[MiddletonMark]

Wow, that's lovely Mac!

Chris makes an important point about polyp extension on the reef. Night is the time for polyp extension [PE] ... as it is in our aquaria as well. If corals don't polyp day, or night ... then I worry more - but I've found for Acropora and the like that some will only exhibit PE at night. Some will during the day, but that will vary coral to coral... a few, like Pocillapora, Seriatopora, selected Acro/Montis - will be fully extended 24/7 ... but among Acropora, it's highly variable.

And if I give a frag to my friend - it might exhibit completely different patterns of polyp extension even with similar growth and color [or not].
Having traded for `fuzzy Acro varieties' in a friend's tank a few times ... to come home to nighttime-only frags, reminds me how my tank generally has less PE, even without nippers. Figure eventually my tank chemistry will change to cause more ... but provided growth/health and color, I'm happy.

It's good to note these things - as it could be a sign of the coral having issues - but given you report it's doing fine otherwise, I'd guess it's either acclimating, doesn't in your present water chemistry [not that it's bad chemistry], or it just doesn't do that much.

Just my rambling take.

 

[piercho]

Very envious of that Stylo of yours, Mac.

If yours extends at night, my guess is it will start extending during the day, too. I'll also add that some Stylos, as well as some Pocs, tend to be much "fuzzier" looking than others when their polyps are extended, to start with. Super fuzzy stylos that have tentacles long enough to ripple in the current are my favorite coral, especially if the tentacle tips contrast with the coenosarc, like Macs.

 

[ReeferMac]

Damn.
You're gonna hate me Howard....

That one I've seen up to a half-inch long tentacles on at night.

Thanks Mark. Those 2 have managed to stick w/ me through all the various pests I've been dealing with. I'm actually due to bust them up to bring some frags in to the LFS.
(Nudge nudge, wink wink, Kent).

- Mac