What Causes This?

[Nikon_Guy]

I have two zoanthid colonies that have several polyps that are exact in every way to the rest of the polyps in the colony except for the fact that the centers are a different color. Is there a specific reason that this happens or is it pretty normal?

Here is an example picture:

 

[ecotoxlady]

I think this happens pretty frequently though I'm not sure what the cause of it is. In my own experience with this, most of the time the different polyps will revert back to their former coloration given time and in rare instances will morph even more into something different. It's always cool to watch regardless of the cause

 

[ficklefins]

Sometimes a zoa will get part of its tentacle in its mouth. For some strange reason this causes the mouth area to turn the skirt color, almost like a dye. I guess it consumes the zooxanthelle in the skirt.

This first one was a shot from my tank
http://www.zoaid.com/index.php?module=Gallery2&g2_itemId=1926

This second one is a better pic, hence, not from my tank.
http://www.zoaid.com/index.php?module=Gallery2&g2_itemId=1022

 

[ficklefins]

And yes it will return to it's normal color, but not right away.

 

[Nikon_Guy]

Most interesting. I will have to keep an eye open for that as I have not witnessed it before. Thank you.

 

[redsonja]

I've had a few zoas look like they were "sucking their thumb" like that but I haven't noticed a color change afterward. That's pretty darn wierd...

-Sonja

 

[Kigs!]

i had a rock with bam bams and dragone eyes that fell to some heavy infection...after they pulled through, i started to notice certain polyps that would contain both colors of the bambams and dragon eyes, some polyps with colors looking as if both colors were mixing on a palett... very weird