lollipop heads

[fullmonti]

Liam & I got lollipops a few days apart, both dropped their heads right away. Both grew new heads in just a few days. Now both have dropped their heads again, & have small ones growing back already. Is this their normal growth habit???

 

[flying_dutchman]

I guess so:

It is common for the Blue Palm to drop their heads both during transit, and within the aquarium. During this time, the tunicate will cover itself with a clear mucous. This is not an indication of poor health. Within a short time, it will blossom and form new flower like heads.

http://www.oceanproaquatics.com/shop/blue-palm-lollypop-tunicate-nephtheis-fascicularis-p-19727.html

 

[flying_dutchman]

My guess is that this is their way of getting rid of toxins similar to sponges shedding their cells. But it is just a guess

 

[fullmonti]

Thanks for link never heard of Ocean pro before. I wonder how often the head dropping goes on. Any one kept these guys long enough to know?

 

[nanafish]

I too am curious to know if anyone has been able to keep these blue palms as well. I had purchased them on 2 seperate occasions. Both times they never really lasted past a month. I was not able to find much info on these.

 

[fullmonti]

Got a pic of mine, third set of heads but I think it is doing just fine.

 

[nanafish]

to fullmonti: Those Blue Palms/lollipops look fantastic! How long have you had yours? Where are they placed in your tank in relation to the lights? What kind of lighting are they under? Have you done anything special to encourage their growth? Please share any other pertinent info!

 

[fullmonti]

They are in a dedicated NPS tank with continuous feeding system. The lighting is just two actinic T5 bulbs, but all critters in the tank are non-photosynthetic so only light needed is for viewing. Other than it being in this system nothing special done for it. I have only had mine about a month.

 

[GreshamH]

My guess is that this is their way of getting rid of toxins similar to sponges shedding their cells. But it is just a guess

Not a website I would take any information from I hate to say. He got banned from RC back when it was hard to get banned from RC.

 

[flying_dutchman]

^
wrong thread?

 

[uhuru]

It doesn't look like there is much info out there, even the scientific articles are more about taxonomy and general biology than anything. One person reported that they will orient their heads towards the light suggesting they may be partially photosynthetic. Other sites say dropping heads is due to stress but also a part of the natural cycle. These are just random websites from a google search can't find any reliable info on their care.

 

[Luca_]

Compliments! I really like your Lollypop, I'd like to have one in my tank.

 

[gvibes.h20]

This is my first time with lollipops. I was just wondering if my lollipops are ok with their mouths not as open? Also do they need special feeding or extra feeding?

 

[Namyar]

I am wondering how they are still doing at this point?

Sent from my Liberated DroidX

 

[fullmonti]

My NPS tank was a smaller part of a system that had a larger SPS tank. Even with extreme filtering the extra feeding of the NPS tank was to much for the SPS part of the system. So I found a home for the filter feeders. My lollipop heads got a little smaller each time they grew back. I think from underfeeding? I haven't heard how it is doing now.
The person I think got it has a dedicated NPS tank, so hoping for the best.

 

[hayes112]

Mine ( about 10 heads) were in a mixed reef in medium flow. At the time I was not running alot of mechnical filtaration and I did add some phyto in the tank which I really do know if it helped them or not. Long story short mine made it just shy of 4 months. They are pretty but I have never really heard of a sucess story with them....I personally would not buy them again.