What is my goofy Trachyphyllia doing?

[bluemon]

Nothing really wrong with my Open Brain Coral, but was wondering what it does when it morphs itself like this at times. I've had this Trachy for ~6 years, it has grown a lot since I got it, t least twice the size, and went from having 2 mouths to something like 8. The above pictures show its typical state of being (it looked a bit washed out that day because its lighting was a bit stronger that month), whether it is slightly deflated, or happy or wants to eat something (I assume). It is also currently hosting two clownfish despite there being a rBTA in the background.

But somedays, it goes CRAZY and puffs up into almost a ball, and almost inflates beyond the tentacles. Like the following three pictures.

I know it's still happy and thriving but was wondering why it does this? Is it digesting something it just ate? (I did not feed it anything, it surely just had some scraps from me feeding LRS. Even when I spot feed bigger food it does not inflate that big), or is it just being goofy?

Also I feel like it does this a bit more often since the clowns started living with it. Do your trachys do this too?

Also anyone have picture of trachy brains in the wild? I'm not sure if the typical pictures of "brain coral" are representative of our trachys in our hobbies.

Thanks everyone!

P.S. Also, I SWEAR it can move itself when it does this (I have seen it change positions in its little corner) but that must be from the clowns nudging it, right?

 

[bluemon]

Bonus pic showing the peak of its insane goofy inflation

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

Bonus pic showing the peak of its insane goofy inflation

Pretty sure this is a feeding response when i add aminos mine will do this after spot feeding pellets...same trachy before and after feeding aminos and pellets

 

[bluemon]

Pretty sure this is a feeding response when i add aminos mine will do this after spot feeding pellets...same trachy before and after feeding aminos and pellets

That was my assumption as well, sometimes it inflates beyond its usual "puff" so I was intrigued. I think the insane puffing up lately was caused by the increased dissolved organics in the water as I have been trying to stir detritus from the sandbed right before lights out.

Also, a follow up question, do these brains ever get bigger than the Two "Folds"?

Also, your Trachy when it inflates is also very cute

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

That was my assumption as well, sometimes it inflates beyond its usual "puff" so I was intrigued. I think the insane puffing up lately was caused by the increased dissolved organics in the water as I have been trying to stir detritus from the sandbed right before lights out.

Also, a follow up question, do these brains ever get bigger than the Two "Folds"?

Also, your Trachy when it inflates is also very cute

As long as parameters are good they will def keep growing i have watched a good buddies keep getting bigger and bigger now its easy 8x10in started as a 6x2

 

[bluemon]

As long as parameters are good they will def keep growing i have watched a good buddies keep getting bigger and bigger now its easy 8x10in started as a 6x2

But they maintain its characteristic shape, correct?

It doesn't suddenly create another "donut"?

Also, is mine a Wellsophyllia and not a Trachy? I know Wellsophyllia is now considered the same as Trachyphyllia, but was wondering if mine falls under what was once known as Wellsophyllia.

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

I would say it does show wellso characteristics