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I'm not certain of the species but I have a photosynthetic gorgonian (described only as Gold Plume Sea Fan) that seems to have done some damage to a toadstool. It had one of it's long flexible branches knocked into a toadstool twice, sticking to to the toadstool (I've since relocated the gorgonian). This initially left some polyps on the toadstool looking almost burned, as if someone had taken a match to them. In the weeks that followed the incidents, the damaged toadstool polyps died completely, leaving multiple holes in the toadstool. The toadstool seems healthy in spite of this and is now fully open around the holes.
I usually see gorgonians described as peaceful but do their polyps contain stinging cells that can damage other corals on contact or was this just a toadstool overreacting to being touched?
I usually see gorgonians described as peaceful but do their polyps contain stinging cells that can damage other corals on contact or was this just a toadstool overreacting to being touched?