Plate Coral Moving On Its Own

Chuck Anderson · 01-10-2005, 01:21 PM

Has anyone ever had a Long Tenticle Plate Coral move on them?

I purchased the Long Tenticle Plate coral about 8 days ago. In that time it has moved accross my substrate about 3 inches. For some reason it has moved itself right up to the glass making it difficult to properly clean the sides of the tank.

Thanks!

TrojanScott · 01-10-2005, 01:41 PM

Had one move right off a ledge! They are capable of "walking"...(if memory serves) ... slowly, but surely!

MaryHM · 01-10-2005, 08:02 PM

They actually alternately inflate/deflate themselves to move across the substrate. It's really frustrating to place 20 of them all nicely organized and with 3" of space between each one, then come in the next morning and they're all on top of each other.

wanareef · 01-11-2005, 03:32 AM

You'll have to use a "corral" next time

graffyn · 01-11-2005, 08:53 AM

Oh Yea, I move mine back to its spt once a week. Been doing this for 2 long years now... It has not affected him at all as he is about 12" across now !!!

Try creating a lagoon? place him on the sand bed and block him in with live rock, it will at least impead his progress a little.

Here is a pic of mine in the back right corner.

Chuck Anderson · 01-11-2005, 10:56 AM

Thanks for sharing your Plate Coral experiences.

I plan to move the coral on a weekly basis. I will also try the coral corral.

yardboy · 01-11-2005, 01:04 PM

Mine will sit still fro long periods of time, then suddenly (well, for a plate coral) start moving around. I've got an orange fungia who will move toward the other plate, when it gets to within a certain distance.

NOTORIOUS LEE · 01-11-2005, 04:01 PM

I also had a plate coral for a few weeks but had to take it back because it just wasn't suited for my tank.

I had it situated mid-way up in my tank on a ledge & every morning I would get up & see that it has walked towards the edge.

One time it actually walked straight off the edge & fell onto my substrate causing one of my clowns to freak & jump out of the tank into the internal mechanical filter.

I was really lucky it didn't land on the floor as I didn't notice this for about an hour.

yardboy · 01-14-2005, 05:42 PM

Go diving in the Pacific and you'll see them everywhere, perched on ledges above the abyss, lodged under big plates. They obviously can move around quite a lot. I always wondered if one fell into deep water whether it could climb back up into the light!