My Dendronephthya is growing roots!

[uhuru]

A few days ago, the rock which my Dendronephthya was attached to broke into pieces and the dendro floated into my rhizo. I pulled it out and had to cut it from the rock, as the rock was not stable enough to hold anything. I then used fishing line and attached the dendro to a new rock with what little base was left. I feel really bad because the dendro was doing so well, and after this incident it just looked like crap. I noticed the rock coming apart a few days before this happened, but just thought that it would be able to hold up until I had time to deal with it. I was wrong! Well, it still looks pretty f'ed up from all the trauma, but something I'm sure you don't see very often are the "root like processes" that they use to attach themselves to new substrates. Even more rare is to see the progress of them growing from a freshly cut base!

They have been growing about 1-2mm per day. The coral is also starting to right itself and show more expansion. I don't know if I can save it, but with all the polyps remaining open at least I can continue trying to feed it so it can recover. I'll be sure to update on this.

 

[Aquabacs]

Sweet!

Mike

 

[uhuru]

Here's some more info on "root like processes:"

http://www.jstor.org/pss/3227232

Abstract
Pieces cut from colonies of the soft coral Dendronephthya hemprichi exhibited rapid and effective attachment to hard surfaces. Attachment involved development of root-like processes (RLPs), which appeared at the basal part of the fragment 4 days after its removal from the colony. The fine structural changes and cascade of cellular events occurring in the RLP before and after attachment were studied using SEM, TEM, and LM. The epidermis of the RLPs is actively involved in the attachment process and several distinct phases are documented: appearance of numerous oval vesicles, extrusion of these vesicles resulting in the formation of an outer layer composed of extracellular organic matrix and organellar debris, which functions as an adhesive device leading to initial attachment. The latter phase was followed by the formation of desmocytes, which develop in the RLP epidermis and function as anchoring devices, mediating the firm attachment of the fragment to the substrate. This is the first evidence among anthozoans that desmocytes play an active role in anchoring tissue to substrate and thus extends the range of functions exhibited by desmocytes among anthozoans.

 

[owlbassboy]

thats great stuff mate

 

[Kreeger1]

Looking for a claps hand Icon. Good work man
Erik

 

[TheH]

Very nice picture. So they are basically only for attachment to the substrate?

 

[rowjimmy]

Sorry to hear about your "monster" Mike....that was a kick a*s looking specimen. I loved that color morph. I hope it pulls through for you. The fact that you have new "roots" growing is promising. I wish you the best of luck with it! :thumbsup:

 

[uhuru]

Thanks for the encouragement guys! I really hope it pulls through, I've certainly become emotionally attached to this one. If it deals with trauma the same way vertebrates do, it's the sequela that often kill the animal afterwards. I think there is some necrosis going on from the branches that were in contact with my rhizo for too long, and it still has yet to inflate even to 20% of what it used to. The good sign is the polyps are almost always open still and the RLP's are continuing to grow and attach to the new rock.

TheH - I'm not sure what other purpose they serve. My understanding is that they don't grow out from the coral unless it needs to attach to a substrate. Otherwise they are simply normal epidermal cells. The process of cutting the base whether by scissors or natural forces in the ocean probably signals for them to become these roots and desmocytes. It's really fascinating, especially the relatively rapid rate of growth considering it's rare to see ANY growth from these corals in home aquaria.