Colt - polpys open, but stalk deflated

[jjirsa78]

I have a colt that's generally in the 7-8" range. Lately, it's been opening (full brown polyps out), but deflating (about 2-3" tall instead of 7", stalk looks week, branches bent and limp).

Nothing significant has changed in the tank - same location, same light, same flow. Bulbs are PC (4x65W), about 7 months old. Added some ordinary Turbo snails and hermits, just to replenish what had disappeared over time.

Everything else in the tank except a GSP cluster looks fine - that cluster also isn't opening, which is unusual. All inverts, fish, and other soft corals are fine.

My hunch is that there's some outside pollution - my wife generally burns a lot of candles in that room, any chance that's irritating the system? Anyone have any other ideas?

[jjirsa78]

One bump to keep it on the main page :(

[Tate]

My colt will act like that every now and then. Some say they retract to replenish their slime coat. I personally wouldn't worry about it unless it does it for several days to a week. Moving it would just aggrivate it some more so leave it alone and see what happens.

[fast57]

they seem to go through cycles. Mine looks like crap for about a week every month to month and a half or so then it gets bigger and looks great. My green toadstool does it too.

[jjirsa78]

Moving it isn't an option without fragging - it's grown onto a 17lb piece of rock :)

I'll give it another few days and do a waterchange - hopefully it'll just come back to normal.