Black Tubastrea spawning

[flying_dutchman]

I guess I should give some background first. I picked up six colonies of dying sun coral 19 days ago. 90% of the skeleton was bare white. After extensive feeding the coral started recovering, polyps started extending and tissue started growing back. Unfortunately my heater decided to break, I didn't notice until the next day . The corals were extremely stressed out looking just as bad as when I got them :hmm3:. Strangely I saw some egg like things in one colony but didn't think much of it. Today 20 hours or so later another colony is releasing eggs, they are perfectly round round so it is not poo, it isn't undigested food either because the pellets are bigger than the eggs.

What caused the corals to spawn? Stress?

 

[Moort82]

I'd say it's likely stress related. I've seen imorted sun corals come in and they have usually spawned I think its the last chance to pass on the genes reaction.

 

[WSI2406]

It may not just be stress related. It is the time of the year. Changing season will cause the corals to spawn. I had several colonies spawn around this time of the year. Good luck, I had about only 10 babies continue out of about 80, they fly around trying to attach to a rock. IME. But stress can cause this too. Hopefully is is the latter of the two.

 

[Usernametaken]

A rise or drop in temperature can force spawning in many fish and inverts.
I see no reason why it wouldn't be the same for corals.
Also, as stated above, it is spawning time.

 

[alexruegamer]

i had this with my orange one... i put it in my tank which had a different temperature and they spawning...
now 4 months later i have over 20 new polyps on my rocks

good luck!

 

[coltrref]

I also it believe that for some reason of this one period, it gives the spawnings of some corals to itself for the change of temperature.

in some reefs in November in full moon there are multiple spawnings.

 

[suta4242]

in some reefs in November in full moon there are multiple spawnings.

Thats true, too. My locally collected Queensland tubastrea did this monthly last year from early Nov to early January. It coincided with a few days before (? or after) a full moon. But my black ones collected in various locations - apparently including one from the same reef - did not (AFAIK).

FWIW I would have missed the whole event if it wasn't for being up at midnight to spot feed. They started when the pumps were turned off, and this went on for quite some time.

As an aside, I suspect stress can initiate reproduction, but only if the coral's energy needs have been met. Would like to know more about this TBH.:dance: