Anyone ever had a plate coral grow from wild zoa colony

[lhm nole]

Well about a year ago I bought some wild zoa colonies and about 3 months ago I noticed a plate coral growing out of it skeleton like a twig plate is purple and green I have since given the zoas away they were just common zoas and now I notice twin plates where the colony was about the size of a paly head..First plate discovered is now close to 3 inches inflated.. Anyone else have this happen was it a spore that came on the zoa colony? The colony was not on a rock but more like a tonga branch

 

[Reef Frog]

My guess is that the wild zoa colony had a recently attached larvae to the rock when you got it. It was probably too small to see. Maybe these juveniles are able to move around too like the adults.

I do know they reproduce sexually in the wild and not through spores. I'll have to remind myself to read up on the life histories of these things. Interesting observation.

 

[Budman422]

I have one that has grown a plate also. I also got mine a year ago. It has been fun to watch it grow. I have also heard of others that have had these grow that got them about the same time

 

[Armand9601]

I think I have one now, colony of zoas melted on me but for some reason the plate coral seems to be thriving. Right now it's about 3/4" round - definitely a welcome addition to my tank

 

[Dapg8gt]

I also had the same thing.. It will eventually detach from the base and more will develop. I've gotten about 4 in 4 years or so..feed them and they will grow quite fast

Here's a crappy pic of them.. Mine are green with stripes..

 

[MJSavage]

Yes, my plate is about 1/4" so far and doing great.

 

[bellis31]

I have 2 that grew from the base of a now dead Trumpet Coral colony, they are green with a purple stripe around the outer rim.

 

[nodak]

I found one on some LR it was so small I couldn't tell what it was. I moved it to another tank and 4 years latter I have 7 plates. The largest is 4 inches followed by 3 more about 2 1/2 inches. The other 3 are about 1/2 in. Still producing babies. Talk about a freebee.