Ok My first experiment...Acan and Zoanthids growth comparison

[JWJTide21]

So I was curious about the differences in growth among acans and zoathids with the size of the frag. Ok let me explain... I hope to find out which grows new poylps faster? A single poylp frag or a mutilple polyp frag??? So lets see over time which produces the most!!

Here are my subjects lol
The Acans ...all fragged from the same colony

An Acan with 1 head

An Acan with 2 heads

An Acan with 3 heads

Now for the AoG Zoanthids....also all from the same colony

An AoG with 1 polyp

An AoG with 1 1/2 polyps

An AoG with 71/2 polyps

 

[crumbletop]

Cool experiment. Keep us posted!

 

[sandalscout]

Neat idea... What are the parameters for your experiment? What sort of time frame are you looking at? Will you count multiple polyp growth, or simply which one grows a new one first?

 

[JWJTide21]

I have no timetable on this. I am specifically planning on watching the Acans until they grow full heads and at that point I will determine which is the best way to maximize growth. My first thought is to update every week and of course the first week or two may not reveal much.

 

[VINH_XUAN]

You got nice frags there JWJTide21
May I ask for the name of the acan with 3 heads.
Thanks

 

[btkrausen]

FWIW, I frag AoGs all the time. I found that when I put two single polyps on a rock, about the inch or two apart, they multiply like crazy. I have the two polyps turn into 25 polyps in about 1.5 months.

Singly, they didn't grow as fast.

 

[gsusfreak]

btkrausen...man, you didnt tell me that!!!...i was starting to think mine were not AoG's cause they grow soooooooooo fast....i already sold a frag off....and still have around 25 polyps (still babies though)....when i started out with only 8!

 

[JWJTide21]

Ok so as expected... I looked closely Sunday night and no signs of new growth on any. Now week 2 is coming up so I am thinkin I may see a lil bit of something. I will post pics of any new life that presents itself

 

[JWJTide21]

ok its about that time... Its been 4 weeks now and I am noticing some good growth. My lights will be on around 2 today so I wil get some pictures posted

 

[teamreefers]

Ok I have been waiting and wondering? where are the pictures? I am very courious about the growth rate you have found?

 

[JWJTide21]

Update!!

Update!!

OK first the bad news...I had to frag the AoG's so that experiment is over but I can tell ya before I did they each had grown 2 new polyps after 3 weeks...... Ok now for the Acan update with pictures....

OK these pics are of the single poylp frag from each side... Three new small polyps have emerged

This is of the 2 polyp frag from each side....It also has grown 3 new small polyps maybe a lil smaller in size then the single polyps new growth

And the last is the 3 polyp frag...this has only added one new polyp however it is much bigger then the others

Soooooo any thoughts so far???

 

[crumbletop]

It remains to be seen, but it looks like fewer polyps but more growth on the 3 polyped frag. The # polyps could be related to how the frags were made -- i.e. if you sliced through tissue outside of the parent polyp maybe that turned quickly into a small polyp.

This is a neat experiment.

 

[JWJTide21]

I am also thinking that it could have alot to do with the cut like you said. The reason for my experiment is from something I heard when I first started with reefs (dont remember who told me). I heard that singlalone and would show e polyps dont like to be more growth because of that, maybe as a protection thing??? I also wondered if it had anything to do with available growth space?? the single polyp has more room for growth....any thoughts on these theorys?