How do Scolymias reproduce?

[Cambria]

I have 4 scolymia and was wondering how do they reproduce?

I've read that the reproduce sexually by releasing eggs and sperm into the water, but it sounds like the chance of a scolymia being created from that is very low (maybe if you put it in a frag tank with no predators?). Then I've read people using band saws to cut the scolymia making sure that part of the mouth is on each frag. That sounds pretty risky for the price of a scolymia.

 

[Cambria]

Has anybody successfully had a scolymia reproduce?

 

[organism]

In the wild they reproduce through spawning as you described, and since millions of eggs are released the chances of a scolymia being created from that is guaranteed since otherwise we wouldn't have any In a captive system it's very difficult to get corals to spawn, and I'm not sure if anyone's successfully gotten them to attach and grow. The chances of that happening in your system is probably zero.

You can frag one with a bandsaw, the downside is you might lose it, and the other downside is you'll have something that looks like half a donut for like a year. They're not generally seen as a coral that's worth fragging.

 

[joshky]

While I can't say anyone has had success with Scolymia, there are other corals that have successfully reproduced and had the offspring attach and grow in closed systems. I guess anything is possible, but I imagine very unlikely.

 

[Cambria]

Thanks for the info. It's too bad they're hard to frag.

 

[elegance coral]

Scoly's may be brooders. If so they may be easier to "breed" in captivity than broadcast spawners. I don't think anyone knows for sure. The only way to find out is to try it.

My advice, if you want them to reproduce, take good care of them, observe them very closely, and feed them often. If you do this, mother nature will do what she does.

This is not something that is out of the realm of possibility, or beyond our abilities. IMHO, this is the future of our hobby. I have been working with "breeding" elegance corals. I haven't raised one through to adulthood yet, but it's just a matter of time. I have raised them through the larval stage, but lost them shortly after settlement. This is a hurdle that I will overcome. If I can do this with elegance coral, then you can do it with scolys. There was a time when breeding fish seemed like a pipe dream in this hobby.
Below is a pic of an elegance coral egg from one of my corals.

 

[stef83]

Without skimmer and fish/invert predator, maybe it'll be possible one day.

Keep the challenge up elegance!

Stef

 

[reefdeep]

small 2x2 tank or smaller you can fit about 12 in there comfortably - no skimmer very little flow - maybe even a biocube with led would be a good bet - weekly water changes and a light that has a lunar cycle - basically take what they use for rock nems and apply that to the scoly

 

[organism]

small 2x2 tank or smaller you can fit about 12 in there comfortably - no skimmer very little flow - maybe even a biocube with led would be a good bet - weekly water changes and a light that has a lunar cycle - basically take what they use for rock nems and apply that to the scoly

Rock nems spit out tiny little versions of themselves that are already attached, walking and eating, so there are lots of threads a magazine article about them spawning. There are zero threads and articles about a captive bred scolymia... there's a reason for that.

 

[oceanarium]

Scolyomia vitensis are reportedly a brooder so potential for success would be much higher with this species.

Brooders release more mature Planuala able to settle quite quickly on a more regular cycle.

I don't know any other scolys are identified as brooders, rather broadcast spawners. These would need to release both eggs and sperm simultaneously which only tends to happen over a few nights per year. You would need to then collect any fertilized eggs and raise them in a purpose tank to keep the larva suspended till they mature enough for settlement.

 

[amber3k]

I'm surprised to know some coral have a larva stage. I would have never guessed that.

 

[elegance coral]

I'm surprised to know some coral have a larva stage. I would have never guessed that.

The vast majority do. They all produce sexually by some means.