Growing candy cane from small frag...

[reverendmaynard]

Hey guys,

I have a candy cane frag that consists of one head with about 1/2" of "stem". I have it placed on top of my LR, just laying on it's side (stem down, polyp facing up.) It's been in my tank about 6 weeks.

It seems to be doing fine. The polyp is about 50% larger than it was, and it eats, even during the day, when I target feed it brine and mysis. Light green radiating lines are in evidence on the pink outer rim, which I have heard is a sign of good health.

So, what's the best way to encourage it to grow? Does this type of coral normally "bud", by creating new branches, or split the polyps? Should I try to afix the coral to the rock by the stem end? Will it eventually attach itself to the rock?

 

[JeRmZ]

I had the same thing ...

Mine has now split into 4 heads, but on the same base it originally came with. I really don't understand how it will or if it will grow a new base or not.
I used marine epoxy to attach mine into a little crevice in my LR and it has been doing great ever since!

 

[reverendmaynard]

Thanks for the reply, JeRmZ. So, the heads split, but it still has a tiny base? I'm pretty sure the stem portion is dead and will not grow more, but it seems like, on the reef, if a head was knocked off, it would have some means of attaching and growing from there. Anyone else?

 

[duec22]

I grew this from a single head that was 3/4 dead and both the guy at the store and I thought it was merletti in about a year...bought it for a $1 since we both expected it to die...The key to get these guys to take off is to feed them a couple times a week...any meaty food will do...the more you feed the larger the poylps will be...when I'm feeding heavy (3+ times a week) the heads don't split in two..it's more like into 3 or 4 at a time. You will see extra mouths form in the center and then they will divide between the mouths...

 

[reverendmaynard]

But, is it all still growing from the original stem?

 

[duec22]

yeah, the stem is really hidden now...that whole thing is expoyed to the rock by the original 1/4" stem....as it gets bigger the sides will grown down below where the stem is and hit the rock as it develops into a big dome...I'm not sure if it will actually attach or not when the tissue comes in contact with the rock..

BTW: in that pic if you look at the head on the very bottom you will see how it is spiliting...there are two mouths and it's starting to pinch in inbetween them...

 

[reverendmaynard]

Hmm, interesting. So when it splits into new heads, it grows a fresh layer down the old stem?

Thanks for the input.

 

[tekknoschtev]

yes, the "stem" is actually skeletal material. As you said, it wont grow and attach. I'm not sure if new skeletal tissue can attach and grow around other rocks, but I dont believe it can actually attach. Then again, it looks like thats what one of mine is getting ready to do:

The large mass at the right was literally dripping off of the main "colony" albiet slowly. Now it is forming around the rock, and definately has skeletal tissue within it. Its still attached to the main colony, though the skeletons are different/seperated. I dont know if it will attach to the rock around it, but we will see. I've been watching it drip off for a few months now.