Why do they do this

[enzo]

These armor of God's are about 1.5" stretched out. When I move them slightly closers to the lights they close up?

 

[DeniseAndy]

Some of my palys prefer to stretch. My zoas tend to not stretch as much. No idea why. If they are happy, out, colorful, leave them be. :)

 

[reeferfoxx]

My rastas grew like this when I put them lower in the tank. My eagle eyes went from something halfway shorter than those to completely flush with rocks when I put them higher in the tank. Could it have to do with lighting?

 

[enzo]

But when I saw the mother colony it was up about 1/4" and fully open? Not stretched at all.

 

[reeferfoxx]

But when I saw the mother colony it was up about 1/4" and fully open? Not stretched at all.

Lighting.

 

[Reeferfourlife]

+ lighting. Try to move them up slowy. They need to acclimate to your light

 

[enzo]

Please read the beginning of this post

 

[reeferfoxx]

Please read the beginning of this post

They will close up until they have adjusted. They won't necessarily die, but will be closed an extended amount of time until they have adjusted.

 

[enzo]

I've had them for 4 months now how long does it take to adjust

 

[reeferfoxx]

I've had them for 4 months now how long does it take to adjust

I'm confused. You've had them for months in the same spot as the picture? or you've had them for months in high light and they've stayed closed?

 

[enzo]

I've had them for 4 in the tank and tried different spots and for the last month there where you see them in the picture. For lighting I have one Kessel 360w on my 30 gl breeder, so lots and lots of light. I thought it was to much light.

 

[reeferfoxx]

I've had them for 4 in the tank and tried different spots and for the last month there where you see them in the picture. For lighting I have one Kessel 360w on my 30 gl breeder, so lots and lots of light. I thought it was to much light.

Well, you said when you moved them up high, they would close. Assuming you were worried, you probably moved them again? If you had let them stay closed, in one spot, they would have shrank in size to fit the lights.

 

[enzo]

So i should move them up a little closer at a time until I find them a happy spot.

 

[reeferfoxx]

So i should move them up a little closer at a time until I find them a happy spot.

They look happy right now. It is up to you where you want them. Most zoas are pretty diverse, respectively. I would say these particular ones will do fine no matter where you put them :)

 

[enzo]

So you think they look happy I always thought they are supposed to be really short and open

 

[reeferfoxx]

So you think they look happy I always thought they are supposed to be really short and open

They're alive with color. I would guess that is as happy as it gets. If they were placed in a spot with more light, they would be short.

 

[RushReefer2112]

My armor of gods do the exact same thing. I had them on a rack to the side of my tank mostly getting indirect light from one of my 250 halides. When I bought them, they weren't stretched out very much, if at all, and when I put them in the tank they were good for the first week or so then I started noticing the stretch. I moved them up a bit but I guess it was too much of a shock and they closed up halfway (as it looks yours are doing in the picture) for about 2 weeks and started opening back up full again. Then I moved them up some more after they adjusted and the whole close up situation has been happening for about a week now. I expect them to come out within the week. By the way, mine are 6" under a 250w halide and a little to the side but still, quite a bit of light, still stretching... So I wouldn't worry about the stretching at all. Yeah, it's kinda ugly, but the polyps are a great color. If they've been half open for more than a month, I'd move them down a little and see if they open full again. I completely understand your situation. My dad was worried (and still is) because he thinks they're melting away as one very poorly fragged polyp did over 5 months ago.

 

[tuna_bullet]

starving for light

 

[Fragzilla]

Try moving it away from that big rock. Mine do that when they're next to a large rock causing shadows, I think the Zoa thinks its can stretch up and start budding off higher up.

 

[enzo]

Yah I'm going to move it soon