pontiac2002gtp
New member
How fast have your dendros been growing and how often do you feed them? I just got my first one and it has one small head on the side.
Dendro growth
- Thread starter pontiac2002gtp
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stunreefer
Reef Hugger
I assume you mean Dendrophyllia not Dendronephthya?
If so, it depends on the specific species, some grow considerably faster than others IME, but the more commonly seen Dendrophyllia arbuscula grows pretty good for me. I see multiple babies popping up every month or so, and can double a colony size in about a year assuming I keep up with feeding. I feed them daily a generous portion of PE Mysis shrimp and occasionally Rods Food (predator blend - no algae). I know several reefers that have bought frags from me that only feed once a week or so and they do not get nearly the growth I do. Actually I gave one guy a single head and it has only sprouted two babies over the past year and a half... this came from my colony that I nearly double evey year.
Lesson is, if you want fast growth, feed the hell outta them!
If so, it depends on the specific species, some grow considerably faster than others IME, but the more commonly seen Dendrophyllia arbuscula grows pretty good for me. I see multiple babies popping up every month or so, and can double a colony size in about a year assuming I keep up with feeding. I feed them daily a generous portion of PE Mysis shrimp and occasionally Rods Food (predator blend - no algae). I know several reefers that have bought frags from me that only feed once a week or so and they do not get nearly the growth I do. Actually I gave one guy a single head and it has only sprouted two babies over the past year and a half... this came from my colony that I nearly double evey year.
Lesson is, if you want fast growth, feed the hell outta them!
pontiac2002gtp
New member
sounds good I have been feeding twice a day with mysis and cyclopeeze it's nice and fat.
pontiac2002gtp
New member
Heres a pic I think its dendrophyllia
Logzor
New member
Re: Dendro growth
The heads take some time to get very large, the one posted above is probably 3-4 years old - probably a lot older!. I saw the original colonies that that one in particular was cut from. Judging by the growth pattern (long spread apart branches), it was probably a very slow grower in the wild (we were at the WORC frag swap).
The same growth pattern can be made with wild duncan colonies.
In a reef aquarium the story is a bit different. If you feed every other day with meaty food you can expect to have a new head pop out every 3-4 weeks - possibly faster. The difference between this and the wild colonies is the growth rate. What is also different is the density of the polyps. The dendro will stay compact and shoot out many small heads.
I am guessing in the wild it would grow in a very particular manner to position the polyps to catch food.
I feed mine once a week at best. I have been raising it for 5 months or so. It has gone from three heads two 7-8 heads in that time. Just like my duncan colony, it is extremely compact with many heads.
The heads take some time to get very large, the one posted above is probably 3-4 years old - probably a lot older!. I saw the original colonies that that one in particular was cut from. Judging by the growth pattern (long spread apart branches), it was probably a very slow grower in the wild (we were at the WORC frag swap).
The same growth pattern can be made with wild duncan colonies.
In a reef aquarium the story is a bit different. If you feed every other day with meaty food you can expect to have a new head pop out every 3-4 weeks - possibly faster. The difference between this and the wild colonies is the growth rate. What is also different is the density of the polyps. The dendro will stay compact and shoot out many small heads.
I am guessing in the wild it would grow in a very particular manner to position the polyps to catch food.
I feed mine once a week at best. I have been raising it for 5 months or so. It has gone from three heads two 7-8 heads in that time. Just like my duncan colony, it is extremely compact with many heads.
180+55reef
New member
nice
Here's my dendro, I've had it for about 4 months. When I received it, it already had a baby sprouted. Since then the baby has at least tripled in size and on the other side of the adult polyp is another baby starting. I've read that they are photosynthetic but supplemental feedings can increase growth rate. I feed mine mysis.
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GoingPostal
Active member
I have the same one polyp I have had for two years running. I fed it daily at the beginning, after several months slacked off to every 2-3 days, now is back to every other day, varied diet. Has developed "bumps" all around the head of the polyp that I assumed would be babies but it's been 6+ months and no real growth on them. Very annoying because it seems like most grow quite quickly...except mine. I may have to buy a different frag and see if I have better luck that way.
stunreefer
Reef Hugger
They are 100% non-photosynthetic.
GoingPostal, certain Species grow MUCH faster than others... don't feel too bad
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