Why Do Polyps Retract?

[csauer52]

Is sudden polyp retraction a sign of stress? My pink Dami has been fine ever since it's been in the tank. Today, all polyps are fully retracted. I don't see any signs of anything that could be bugging it. Nothing visible on any branches.

All my other SPS are fine. I have ~50 colonies in the tank and everything else looks great. Could it just be a normal thing or should I be concerned?

Thanks!

 

[jasonrstewart79]

Is sudden polyp retraction a sign of stress? My pink Dami has been fine ever since it's been in the tank. Today, all polyps are fully retracted. I don't see any signs of anything that could be bugging it. Nothing visible on any branches.

All my other SPS are fine. I have ~50 colonies in the tank and everything else looks great. Could it just be a normal thing or should I be concerned?

Thanks!

Could be stress, sensitivity to temperature/pH/chemicals in water/light level or chem warfare with another coral species in the tank. In my experience, when an SPS colony retracts individually its usually a response to light level or flow.

I would monitor it for 24-48 hours and then adjust as needed.

 

[csauer52]

Well, nothing has changed other than pH over the last couple days. My wife has been doing LOTS of baking for Christmas and the pH was running unusually low for the last two days. Today it's back up around 8.18 which is *normal* in my house. It was down to 7.95 yesterday.

I wonder if that could be it? But why only a single colony out of the entire tank?

Very weird...

 

[cloak]

I wouldn't worry about it too much if only one out of the ~50 colonies looks a little off right now. Just a bad day perhaps. If it doesn't bounce back to normal after a couple days or so, then I would start looking for answers. Keep a close eye on it. GL.

 

[HUNTER1]

Sometimes the fish hits them and retract but should open up in minutes.