Zoanthid Trunk Length?

[vikinglord13]

Do you guys know what influences a zoanthid to stretch and grow tall?

I have both an armor of god colony and a purple people eater colony (from what I can tell this is actually a palythoa?) and they're both growing pretty tall. The other colonies I have aren't growing tall and I'm a bit perplexed. From pictures I've seen the Armor of God shouldn't be growing tall but I can't figure out why mine are.

 

[Reeflife916]

Do you guys know what influences a zoanthid to stretch and grow tall?

I have both an armor of god colony and a purple people eater colony (from what I can tell this is actually a palythoa?) and they're both growing pretty tall. The other colonies I have aren't growing tall and I'm a bit perplexed. From pictures I've seen the Armor of God shouldn't be growing tall but I can't figure out why mine are.

In my experience, mine have grown tall like that when they are stretching for some light. The higher up ZOA's seem to be really compact

 

[vikinglord13]

which is what is weird. I have other zoas which are at lower levels of the tanks which are practically flat against the rock. I suppose it's possible these other ones are just used to higher levels of light from the tank they came from.

 

[Reeferfourlife]

Light, flow and which type of zoas will affect the stretching. When too much flow on them will make them stay more flat.

 

[organism]

which is what is weird. I have other zoas which are at lower levels of the tanks which are practically flat against the rock. I suppose it's possible these other ones are just used to higher levels of light from the tank they came from.

Different zoas may need different light levels, stretched trunks means too little light.

 

[jayball]

I have noticed that they will also start to stretch a little as the colony begins to fill in, depending on the shape of the rock, to avoid being shaded

 

[vikinglord13]

Hmm, I think I won't worry about it. The stretched colonies are thriving so I can't really complain. They just look different from what I would like.