Worm Brain Sweeper Tentacles

[shesacharmer]

I got a nice sized frag from the lfs and put it at the bottom of my tank. At the store it was very tight and withdrawn but being new I didn't know any better...it looked good to me. It relaxed a bit and took on some water over the course of a few days. I moved it higher in the tank so it sits about 10" below the LEDS. I'll have had it here a week tomorrow.

This morning I came out to find it entirely covered with long sweeper tentacles that still have not retracted an hour after the lights came on. I moved the nearest coral away from it, a group of small palys, in case they were aggravating my brain. Is this normal behavior? What should I do if the tentacles stay out...anything?

[Sugar Magnolia]

Brains are best left on the sand.

[Art13]

Maybe he's just hungry? I keep mine on his own separate rock near the bottom of the tank, the tentacles can do some damage. Could just be getting used to the tank or sensing some food.

[shesacharmer]

Okay, I will move the brain and the acan back down to the sand bed on opposite ends of the tank and see how they respond. Thanks guys!

[snorvich]

Brains are best left on the sand.

I agree. Sweeper tentacles are offensive/defensive as opposed to hunger induced.

[shesacharmer]

http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b484/shesacharmer/IMG_20140522_073830_640_zpselsvpkoo.jpg

[shesacharmer]

<a href="http://s1288.photobucket.com/user/shesacharmer/media/IMG_20140522_073830_640_zpselsvpkoo.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b484/shesacharmer/IMG_20140522_073830_640_zpselsvpkoo.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20140522_073830_640_zpselsvpkoo.jpg"/></a>

Not trying to be a pest...trying to learn how to insert images.

[shesacharmer]

<a href="http://s1288.photobucket.com/user/shesacharmer/media/IMG_20140522_073707_563_zpsoqaqjv6s.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b484/shesacharmer/IMG_20140522_073707_563_zpsoqaqjv6s.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20140522_073707_563_zpsoqaqjv6s.jpg"/></a>

[cloak]

I would try feeding it something. See how it responds.

[Reef Frog]

Personally I attach brains to the LR once I've found a site that they like. They will encrust & grow on rock. On the sand the growth will be limited to the size of the rock or plug the frag came on.

While the lighting on te sand bed may be right for the brain (moderate loch is best) , often the flow is a little too low for them IME. And I believe direct contact with the sand can be a vector for disease especially if the flow is slack. Just my experience.

Sweepers are a good sign and from the pics it looks like you don't have a crowding issue and plenty of room to grow.

[cloak]

I don't think I've ever bought a brain coral that was attached to a frag plug before. I think you might be thinking of brain corals such as a favia/favites. These will encrust over the rocks, whereas a brain coral such as Trachyphyllia will not. I'm not exactly sure what kind of coral the OP has, but I think placing it on the sand would be a much better option as well. One fall down that reef slope could do a lot of tissue damage to this coral..