Hammer Coral BABIES!

[John75hex]

Well, I'm the proud new father of a hammer coral baby and another one on the way.
Now, If I could get my Elegance to drop one...I'd be jumping for joy!

 

[John75hex]

I can never seem to post a pic IN the thread, here's a link.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=186204&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500

 

[divecj5]

That's an awesome image John. Looks like you might have some cool frags in the future there unless you want them just to multiply out (I would )

 

[John75hex]

^ Thanks, and yes, I will let them multiply, but I may have to frag the main colony as it is getting quite large. We'll see.

 

[Ryanqk]

couldnt see the pic any way to post it here directly?

 

[John75hex]

Try this link

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=186204&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500

 

[adamprice271]

Lookin good. I hosted the pic for you.

Adam

 

[John75hex]

^ Thanks! Today the second one is almost completly dropped and taking shape. I'm very excited! I wonder if I will be able to move these babys in the future. As you can see from the pic. above my anenome is very close. I doubt it will bother them but I would like to move them someday to a different part of the tank.

 

[lbaskball45]

I dont understand, how do they multiply? Doesnt the head split from main colony? Or did this just fall on to your rock and growing on that?

 

[CraigG]

My frogspawn has multiple tiny heads forming along the edge of the head, along with the head splitting completely in to. It hasn't 'dropped' anything yet, is it suppose to?

 

[John75hex]

Well, there is a difference between new growth and reproducing. Branching corals like Frogspawns, Hammers and Torches will grow by creating new heads(attached to itself) and dividing heads, 1 head splits into 2, then 2 to 4 etc. What my coral is now doing is reproducing, that is making a whole new coral. Its not that they are supposed to do it, its just cool when they do. I have had this coral in my tank for about 2.5 years. I think what helps get the coral to reproduce is #1 - time, and #2 leaving it alone, (not moving it). Also, I noticed the 2 heads that dropped "babies" were on the "bottom underside" of the coral. These heads were shadowed by the top heads, not receiving as much light as the rest of the coral.
I checked this morning and there is only a tiny thread left. I would think by tonight the second baby will be complete.

 

[smp]

coooool