Fungia Plate Movement

[destro]

A few days ago I noticed my fungia plate miraculously move a few inches from its normal position. I didn't actually see it move and didn't think much about it. It happened again but this time I thought someone had moved him to play a joke. Today, it moved again but from one side of the tank to the other and appeared to be fully inflated like a balloon. I know they get somewhat inflated when they are fed but this was different.

Is this a defensive mechanism the fungia uses if they don't like their placement in the tank? Ride the flow.

 

[Gareth elliott]

@DSC reef
I have never kept plate coral, know close to nothing about them lol. So tagging along

 

[Tahoe61]

Yup they move. I would try to leave it be.

 

[homer1475]

Exactly what they do when they don't like where we put them.

Inflate like a balloon and ride the current to a new location.

 

[ruegaroo]

Mine has never moved enough to be noticeable but I know they can move on their own. Mine does puff up from time to time especially after dosing aminos.

 

[DSC reef]

Agree with others, they can definitely move and I'd leave it be

 

[destro]

After an adventurous ride, the fungia landed near the back of the tank with some injury. Tissue has peeled back from the edge with white skeleton showing.

We need a doctor!

Should I leave him alone to heal for a few days?
Worried that once its skeleton is exposed bad things can happen (algae, parasites, etc.)

I have Coral RX and Iodine on hand. Let me know what you guys think.

 

[ruegaroo]

You may be in for some crazy fungia plate behavior. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/fungia-reproduction.22573/

I'm not an expert but I have read that they are fairly fragile so keep an eye on it. However, I also read that when damaged or dying they can reproduce and send out many babies. I can't find the thread on here but I remember seeing one that got stung by an anemone and at least 10 or more babies came out of it.