Monti Cap overtake without touching?

[CoralHaze]

Can montipora caps spread to an adjacent cap without actually touching? I know one can overtake if growing into each other. But the base of my flower petal (lower) is getting more and more red, highly similar to the red cap above. The pics show the closest they've ever been - never touching.

I've actually had the flower petal considerably longer but it's been a slow grower. They both got a tad light shocked a couple months ago, and the flower petal has yet to recover it's vibrancy while the red is taking off again. The flower petal would have red highlights along new growth lines...but the base seems well beyond that now.

Thanks in advance-

 

[Derrick0580]

Betting a small piece got broken off by a fish or something and you just didn’t realize it until it grew big enough to see

 

[CoralHaze]

Yeah I guess that's possible. I've noticed hermits hanging on them both more recently - maybe one walked off with a piece? They would have just planted it perfectly along the flower petal edge. I can also see some yellow polyps within the red base, like the two are almost grafted.

 

[exnisstech]

I think it's more of a question of how long before they start touching. If monti caps are healthy and happy they grow and if they grow large enough they are going to touch unless they are far enough apart that they can't.
If yours grow anything like mine your orange one on top will be the last survivor as it is going to shade the ones below it. JMO

 

[CoralHaze]

For sure, and the shading is starting to happen. So I'm going to relocate the flower regardless.

On the plus side with all the recent inspection...the porcelain crab has finally appeared (missing for almost 2 months), apparently his new spot is under the red cap.