Do corals die from old age?

[zheka757]

I dont know why this thought cross my mind! But just like everything else in life that has its life cycle do corals die from age?

 

[Stealthreefer]

They regenerate indefinitely and build upon their previous skeleton. They grow out on top of their dead skeletons.
It's pretty metal.

 

[q8cyu]

Yes, I do believe coral polyps have a point in which they die of old age. (On google it says 2-3 years and max of 5 years but I’m sure different corals vary.) the actual colony if cared for properly should be able to keep growing and live for basically forever but with different polyps. As the coral grow it makes new polyps so when one dies a new poly can grow in its place. depending on the coral it is different, most ”hard” corals will grow on top of The dead polyps. Soft corals I’m not sure how they grow, i’d assume grow over.

In short, the polyp will die the colony can live (theoretically under ideal conditions) forever.

This is just my understanding on this topic, it may be wrong.

 

[coralnutz]

Interesting thought. I've always thought of each polyp being its own thing in the colony. So even if an individual polyp in the colony might die off from old age (don't know that they do) the colony could theoretically go on forever.

 

[Vivid Creative Aquatics Verified Sponsor]

I dont know why this thought cross my mind! But just like everything else in life that has its life cycle do corals die from age?

I'm no expert on this, but from what i understand that the individual coral polyp has a lifespan of some sort - according to the google - 2-3 years, depending on the species.

But, as @Stealthreefer suggested, some types of corals, such as SPS continual regenerator and producing duplicates of them selves, so the colony has the potential to live on indefinitely.

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

What are the oldest living animals in the world?

oceanservice.noaa.gov

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following this, I'm curious about the topic as well.

 

[hexcolor reef]

I think it really depends on speed of growth, slower growing coral like acanthos or scoly coral would love for a long time due to such slow growth.
Fast reproduction means shorter life

 

[zheka757]

I'm no expert on this, but from what i understand that the individual coral polyp has a lifespan of some sort - according to the google - 2-3 years, depending on the species.

But, as @Stealthreefer suggested, some types of corals, such as SPS continual regenerator and producing duplicates of them selves, so the colony has the potential to live on indefinitely.

yeah, I'm no expert on this topic also, just curiosity, so the way you see it, each polys has it own life cycle? like once 1 polyp dies, dose new one reappear in exact same spot on skeletal!

 

[Vivid Creative Aquatics Verified Sponsor]

yeah, I'm no expert on this topic also, just curiosity, so the way you see it, each polys has it own life cycle? like once 1 polyp dies, dose new one reappear in exact same spot on skeletal!

That I don't know - maybe they just get adsorbed and/or grown over by the rest of the coloney .

it would be interesting to track the life cycle of a single polyp on an SPS colony - something with larger, spaced out polyps like a Yellow tip acro or other stag that is similar.

 

[CoralB]

What are the oldest living animals in the world?

oceanservice.noaa.gov

Politicians

 

[vetteguy53081]

I dont know why this thought cross my mind! But just like everything else in life that has its life cycle do corals die from age?

In many cases they die from poor health and water quality versus age.

 

[FrugalReefer]

Imagine the earth being a coral and humans it’s polyps. Humans die but there are new humans born to replace them everyday. Not the best comparison but I tried.

 

[TinnysReef]

My very first coral was/is a cabbage leather. The person I got it from has been in the hobby for 25 years or so. It was on a rock that he says he has moved between different tanks for over 20 years. I've had it for almost 5 years now and I think it really can live forever!

 

[zheka757]

Imagine the earth being a coral and humans it’s polyps. Humans die but there are new humans born to replace them everyday. Not the best comparison but I tried.

I like your poin too view

 

[jabberwock]

Imagine the earth being a coral and humans it’s polyps. Humans die but there are new humans born to replace them everyday. Not the best comparison but I tried.

What's up Carl Sagan?
"Imagine if you will..."

 

[jabberwock]

I like your poin too view

Let's talk about spell check.

 

[hexcolor reef]

My very first coral was/is a cabbage leather. The person I got it from has been in the hobby for 25 years or so. It was on a rock that he says he has moved between different tanks for over 20 years. I've had it for almost 5 years now and I think it really can live forever!

I seen a YouTube video from WWC they visited a reef farm and the person had 25+ tanks that had corals from ages ago. Handed down by other reefers. So 2-3 years is definitely crap. Bad on on googles end

 

[zheka757]

Let's talk about spell check.

Instead, Let's talk about tiny phones and fat fingers!

 

[Tired]

I seen a YouTube video from WWC they visited a reef farm and the person had 25+ tanks that had corals from ages ago. Handed down by other reefers. So 2-3 years is definitely crap. Bad on on googles end

2-3 years seems reasonable for individual /polyps/, not an entire colony. Polyps are usually tiny animals- I don't know how long they live, but it can't be very long. The idea is that a coral colony is constantly growing, changing, and replacing old polyps with new, like how having a single polyp eaten by a predator is nothing for most species.