Sweeper tenticles

[NewbyReefer]

I picked up a maze brain off a fellow reefer and noticed that every once in a while it throws about 4-6" sweeper tenticles. Is it just looking for food or is it on a war path. Luckly it cant reach any other corals, but I'm still curious to why. I know that when food lands on it little tenticles come out, but these are random and much much longer.

 

[kurt_n]

I've got a Platygyra that does the same thing - the long sweepers come from the edge of the colony. Is that where yours are coming from? I've always equated it to an "advance scouting party" that's clearing the way for future growth. Just kind of like taking a blowtorch to it's future home. Even if there's nothing in close proximity, yours could be "smelling" other corals in the tank and thinking they're closer than they are.

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

+1 The sweepers are used to keep the area around the coral clear.