Can corals live forever?

[Aquavaj]

If everything is kept constant and there are no dieases/parasites, can they just keep growing forever? I know there are people out there with colonies that are decades or older.

 

[Shufflepig]

 

[Flippers4pups]

If everything is kept constant and there are no dieases/parasites, can they just keep growing forever? I know there are people out there with colonies that are decades or older.

In the ocean reef, they can live for hundreds of years if not longer. Reefs get damaged sometimes by storms and violent current as well as the bleaching events we see.

In aquariums, if husbandry is kept consistent, decades if not longer can be done.

 

[Fishurama]

Thousands of years depending on the type. The coral reefs didn't just grow over night I don't know the exact age but this link says 4000.

4000 years old link

 

[DeniseAndy]

If you think about one particular animal (polyp), probably not as long, but the colony could live thousands as stated.

 

[Everything Aquatics]

Theoretically a coral with perfect conditions could live almost forever

 

[Nick Steele]

Well a single polyp I don’t believe could live forever but a colony I’m sure of it. There’s a lfs that has a hammer colony that is 32 years old and a nem that is 20 years and has never split. My goal is to keep a particular coral for at least 20+ years and be able to have it in ever one of my future tanks (a pink hammer).

 

[DeniseAndy]

I have had a form of my toadstool for over 15 years. As I said "a form" as I had to frag it when I moved tanks. Does this count as still alive? A part of the original colony is still going strong.

Original frag, full size before move, now.

 

[kyleinpdx]

I have had a form of my toadstool for over 15 years. As I said "a form" as I had to frag it when I moved tanks. Does this count as still alive? A part of the original colony is still going strong.

Original frag, full size before move, now.

This is a great "ship of theseus" question!

 

[Troy V]

I recall reading in Eric Borneman's book in the 90's that Pacific Acropora only live 4-11 years. I found that very interesting, considering it is rarely mentioned, and probably should be if correct. Considering how abundant these coral are in the Pacific as well as how necessary they are for reef building.