whats inside corals...

so i was spot feeding my favia today with roe/ fish eggs (Dr. Fragenstein would be happy)

but it looks like when it pulls the food into its mouths that there are worms inside of it eating the food too!? So does anyone know anything about worms?

 

It should be an algae not worm's. They live alot off of the light's so it is an algae inside of them that need's the light source. maybe they just loook like worms. to my understanding they are similiar to dynoflagellates. but thats just something i read.

 

They are similar to dynoflagellates. They algae is called zooxanthellae, a flagellate protozoa that uses photosynthesis to help feel the coral and in return get a safe place to live.

 

I believe they are specialized tentacles and not worms. Somebody posted a time lapse video of coral feeding earlier today. Let me see if I can find it.

 

Here is the link. Cnidarian Lifeforms on Vimeo

 

no no, trust me i know this... i wrote a synopsis of nine articles and over 200 pages and published it on here about how to get the best color out of your zooxanthellae. but thank you tho

 

yes i saw that movie a few months ago then matt posted it... amazing video!!!

but ok, these things just moved more like worms than tentacles but i guess they could be tentacles... weird!

 

They are called mesenterial filaments. They not only digest food, they also use them to fight with neighboring corals.

 

so they are what are usually referred to as the "feeder tentacles" on here

 

they normally remain inside the polyp's gut. Feeder tentacles (as well as sweeper tentacles) are normally outside of the polyp and those are what you see.

http://www.coralcalcium.com/coralpolyp.jpg