My purple stylophora is conscious?

[Trever]

Corals are sessile animals, I get it.

But I'm starting to think my purple stylophora is sentient with eyes or something. Lately, it retracts it's polyps whenever something goes on in the tank- like a fish would, so to speak.

For example, I just cleaned the glass, it retracts it's polyps (as if danger). There are other weird examples. It wasn't doing this before, but is pretty consistently acting as if "aware" the past few days.

Coincidence or water disturbances such that when something happens, it responds?

Anyone else experience this? I'm worried that someone is stuck inside that stylo- like the movie The Fly or whatever. I kid, but seriously...

 

[ScubaFish802]

Corals are sessile animals, I get it.

But I'm starting to think my purple stylophora is sentient with eyes or something. Lately, it retracts it's polyps whenever something goes on in the tank- like a fish would, so to speak.

For example, I just cleaned the glass, it retracts it's polyps (as if danger). There are other weird examples. It wasn't doing this before, but is pretty consistently acting as if "aware" the past few days.

Coincidence or water disturbances such that when something happens, it responds?

Anyone else experience this? I'm worried that someone is stuck inside that stylo- like the movie The Fly or whatever. I kid, but seriously...

It is most likely responding to either a change in light, a burst of flow, a bump from an algae scrapper etc.. When I open my tank the light changes and my Duncans all close up. They didn't survive millions of years for no reason

 

[cshouston]

 

[homer1475]

I would have to agree with @802ScubaFish . While I have never sen my stylo or any other SPS react in that manner, my LPS certainly do.