Wild coral question

[Aquadicted]

I'm wondering why corals come out at night in the wild and come out during lights on in our tanks.

Is it because food is available at night in the ocean but in the tank its available during light hours??

THanks,
Bill

 

[duke62]

Protection

 

[Aquadicted]

but why switch habits in the aquarium?

 

[Aquadicted]

I mean I get the feeding tentacles come out in some corals but the what of polyps?

 

[Jarrett]

well duke is right, in the wild there are predators that keep the polyps hidden during the day for protection. in our aquariums MOST case scenarios we dont have any coral predators in our reef tanks (obviously) so that might encourage them to come out during the day and night? just my common sense opinion could be wrong. but i get full PE day and night.

 

[edd]

just curious, don't corals require sun light. if their closed during day light in the wild how are they getting sun light.

 

[Jarrett]

the zooanthella within the coral skeleton is what processes the light not the actual coral polyps.