Can One Zoa Multiply?

[edman79]

I bought my first zoa a few weeks ago. I could either afford a colony of some ugly ones, or one nice one on a plug. So I bought the nice one. Just wondering if zoas can asexually reproduce, or will I be stuck with one lonely zoa for life?

Thanks

Eddie Ed

 

[kb1094]

It will reproduce if you have the right parameters.

 

[jjmg]

With a healthy tank, it should reproduce well. Some multiply quickly, some very slowly. I'd always take the one nice one over the colony of ugly ones. Post a pic and lets see what you got.

 

[edman79]

Here he is, my lonely zoa.

Eddie Ed

 

[austin56column]

It should be fine.

 

[erock68]

Here is an example. When I first go this Zoa, it had 4 polyps, then grew to about 10:

Now, today at first lights on:

And just now:

 

[650-IS350]

They can grow to colony in pretty good time if let alone, no predators and all parameters are good and kept.

 

[erock68]

They can grow to colony in pretty good time if let alone, no predators and all parameters are good and kept.

:thumbsup:

 

[edman79]

Thanks for all the replies.

Eddiie Ed

 

[neuro]

I've had one rasta polyp for the last few months. If not since last year. Won't grow while others have taken off.

 

[SushiGirl]

I think it takes longer when it's just one. Radioactive Dragon Eyes, as in erock68's post, grow very quickly. What's considered "ugly zoas"?

 

[650-IS350]

They all don't have the same growth rates as others but once established and healthy they mostly grow faster than most corals. IMO.

 

[gordonj1]

yeah I agree growth rate varies, buuuuuutttt growth in zoas is exponential. I always try to go for at least 5 polyp frags for over best health and growth

 

[modernREEF]

I've had one rasta polyp for the last few months. If not since last year. Won't grow while others have taken off.

I've got a 2 polyp frag with the same problem. PM me your tank params and where you have them placed so we can compage if you get a chance, maybe something will pop up.

 

[modernREEF]

yeah I agree growth rate varies, buuuuuutttt growth in zoas is exponential. I always try to go for at least 5 polyp frags for over best health and growth

Agreed, I'm not a fan of anything under 3 polyps.

 

[edman79]

Agreed, I'm not a fan of anything under 3 polyps.

Sounds like I might have to buy a bigger colony.

Eddie Ed

 

[650-IS350]

Its always better to buy colonies, you have better survival rates compared to chopped up single frag pieces.You can frag it to and place in different parts of tank or give a couple to friends to hold so in case something goes wrong with your pieces you have back up corals.

 

[Reeferz412]

Yes. I had one polyp. Now i have about 30. Took about a year. I think its a radioactive. Its neon green. I don't keep track of names lol.

 

[rovster]

Yeah, the less polyps, the longer it will take to get you there. As the colony gets bigger, it gains momentum, because you no longer have just one reproducing, you have several. It will be like watching paint dry at the beginning. I went from 3 Rastas to 25 in 5 months, but most of the action happend in the last month or 2. I also have a nice colony of Utter Chaos that I have to start fragging because its starting to grow onto the frag rack, and that's after I put it on a larger rock! Just be patient. Best thing you can do is to ignore it, LOL!

 

[SushiGirl]

The cheaper they are, they faster they grow too LOL.

I have the same ones as erock, and they're my 2nd fastest grower. Fastest grower has been some green and orange ones (Green Bay Packers I think) that are now on 3 places on my giant zoa rock (it has turned into a zoa rock LOL). I now have 4 kinds that have grown off of the plugs onto the rock, orange (Whammin Watermelon), 2 different greens, and one of my Tubbs blues. I have tiny orange ones that a few grew off, but they got shadowed by the Fox coral and I don't see them anymore . I have a few here and there in other spots, but they only do really well at the very top of the tank closest to the light. I have others that struggle, my favorite metallic green ones struggle all the time if I move them off the frag rack so I have to keep moving them back. I guess I'll just have to let them grow onto the frag rack, which is a piece of rock.

This took 2 years and the green & orange ones are growing so fast that they're growing onto other corals. You can see them top left, top right, and lower right on the top of the rock. The green & orange ones are already growing over the Fox coral skeleton on the left there...in just a month.