Frogspawn Propagation....

[papagimp]

Hey people,
I have a frogspawn and hammer frag (1 branch frog. 2 on the hammer) and I'm curious if there is anything particular I can be doing to entice them into branching quicker. I've had them both for about 3 months now under 260 watts (power compacts). They both look great (as great as a one branch frogspawn can). They open nicely, flowing beutifully in the current but I can't help but feel they'll look a bit nicer if they each had 20 heads on them =o) Suggetions anyone?

 

[gil716]

Try target feeding them. I only started doing so recently and I can actually see a difference.

 

[digitaldego77]

Agree - target feeding does help. Also, the longer you can keep them undisturbed and in the same place, the better.

 

[rich415]

Ditto on target feeding. My Torch has grown quickly with target feeding. Although I rarely feed my frogspawn and it has grown well also.

 

[papagimp]

Thanks!

Thanks!

Thanks for the tips everyone, I tried target feeding the little froggy last night with some squid. He gobbled that thing up quickly too, lol. also noticed his mouth has split into two seperate mouths. He's acted like he was splitting for about a week now, how long does this process usually take? Not impatient here, just curious.

 

[digitaldego77]

I would give it at least a month or two before it's 2 defined heads. Just keep doin what you're doin - and BE PATIENT.

 

[PL-Reef]

what else other than squid do you all feed them?

 

[Sk8r]

Mine has all of a sudden developed little buds in a ring around the bottom of its head. I've been feeding cyclopeeze for the lps and phyto for the clam. I don't know which is responsible, but it went strange and withdrawn for two days then came out again as before, with this little ring of potential buds. Curious.

 

[papagimp]

So far I've only tried feeding the squid and these shrimp pellets that my Condy seems to like. But I did purchase a multi-pack of frozen cubes, figure someone in the tank is going to like something in the pack. Well, someone other than the Gramma, he'll eat anything. I've read a little about the cyclopese, does it have good results for all of you?

 

[Mofo84]

I started with 2 heads and now it has 4 heads and a little branch coming out the side I feed them meaty foods sometimes.

09-19-05

05-12-06

 

[ACBlinky]

I use silversides a lot. I cut them into small pieces while they're frozen, then use a feeding stick to offer a chunk to all the little LPS mouths in my reefs. Frogspawn, brain, hammers and torch all gobble them up. The candycanes go nuts for the tiny leftover bits at the bottom of the container

 

[Ti]

I've been using phyto, but isn't that too small?

 

[MiddletonMark]

For many stony corals, phyto probably isn't the food they're looking for in my reading [clams, filter feeders, pods + the like are fed, and some corals do consume it readily]. For a good article on this subject check out this: [esp grazing, the big question] Food of the Reefs: Phytoplankton Can be very good for the tank, just may not directly feed corals like these.

There's a ton of meaty foods to feed - I'd experiment with particle size and see what works best. That said, I tend to think smaller particles are better than large as it doesn't seem like coral digestion is best suited for large prey. I have seen some expell chunks of stuff the day after when feeding larger pieces ... so I tend to try for the smallest that I can get them to catch + consume without polluting the tank.

But for the most part, I try to feed around my LPS, directly target feed my brains, candy cane, acans ... the bubble and frogspawn I often just feed upstream of - they catch a bit, thrive nicely.

Perhaps not necessary, but if they react/catch/eat food and your export can handle the nutrients ... why not?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7340431#post7340431 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by digitaldego77
Also, the longer you can keep them undisturbed and in the same place, the better.

100% agree.

Don't forget - these are stony corals [there is no sps/lps in the scientific literature].
Paying attention to Calcium/Alkalinity and keeping them stable around NSW will help them put down skeleton ... along with good water parameters [low dissolved nutrients] will help them grow fastest.

If heads are splitting you're on the right track. Patience and leaving it alone will likely do the trick.

Or so my opinion is.

 

[blange3]

Mysis and cyclopeeze work for mine. I feed once or twice a week. More light might help as well. My 55 has 440w VHO.

They'll be moving soon to a 75 gallon that has been cycling for 4 months without fish or corals. A lot more pods and mysis than the 55 that had fish in the first month.

 

[papagimp]

I'd would much prefer 440 watts of lighting but was limited cash-wise and went for the 260, I havn't developed a love for the SPS corals yet, just the LPS ones. I figured the lighting would be suffecient. The silversides sound like a good idea, especially if your candy cane loves the leftovers, I just purchased one of my own the other day. I've also been dosing my own phyto culture about twice a week or so, I wasn't sure if the corals would consume the phyto so I use a syringe to squirt around the corals and I figure what they don't eat, if any, would simply work it's was around the tank to whomever wanted it. (my itsy bitsy feather dusters and the like)