Do favias have sweeper tentacles?

[kilofey]

Are their feeding tentacles considered sweepers? my new favia has really really long ones, just wondering if they sting. Also, my other new favia frag doesnt have them, or at least I dont see any, is that normal for some?

 

[saxman]

Favia sp. are one of the more aggressive corals, and those long tentacles are sweepers, not feeders. Feeding tentacles tend to be pretty short, and are mostly there to help the coral catch and hold onto food and move it to their mouth.

 

[snakeblitz33]

To my knowledge, all closed brain corals have the ability to defend themselves by stinging sweeper tentacles (nematocysts).

 

[kilofey]

Whats a good distance to keep other corals safe?

 

[snakeblitz33]

Sweeper tentacles vary from species to species. I've successfully kept closed brains right next to zoas and protopalythoas. You will have to just place it about 6" away from everything and then observe over time how long the tentacles are. If you have any problems in the future, adjust your corals around again. Typically, brain corals rarely every sting nearby corals unless they feel threatened.

 

[kilofey]

Ok, im sure my mushrooms and green star polyps should be ok then, theyre pretty non threatening I think. Theyre about 4-5" away, ill try to move them a little in the next day or so.
If a sweeper stings another coral, is it totally done-skeey or is there a chance that it wont die

 

[saxman]

It depends on what is doing the stinging and what it being stung. Generally, it takes a few zaps, but if you notice whitish edges and possible "shrinkage" of the flesh of a suspected "target coral" that coincides with the placement of an aggressive coral, give them more space.

 

[kilofey]

Ok thank you