Zoanthid coming loose and reattaching

[cmcimino]

Can a zoanthid come loose from a colony and reattach somewhere else in the tank? I have a colony that is located on the shell of a bivalve that had some loose heads when I bought it. I'm sure as the bivalve moved around at first a piece or two came off. I discovered a head at the bottom of my tank growing, and I'm thinking it may be one of the pieces that came loose. Just was not sure that's possible. See pictures below.

 

[Surfandturf]

May have been on the rock when you got it. I have found that some of these common zoas are more like weeds. Even after you think you got rid of them, they pop up again.

 

[cmcimino]

It was dry rock so it wouldn't be from that. I was just curious if a head could come loose and reattach itself.

 

[cloak]

Yes, zoanthids can detach and then reattach somewhere else if conditions are right.

 

[wkscott]

Yes. Water flow, rough fish, and inverts can knock some polyps loose enough to detach. As long as they end up in a favorable location, they can reattach and start growing.

 

[A. grandis]

Yes, that happens sometimes.
Grandis.