Propagation rate

[shereth]

How quickly (on average) will happy zoanthids propagate? My wife was somewhat dismayed when I came home the other day with half a dozen frags in the 5-15 polyp range, I think she was envisioning full-blown colonies! I promised her the little guys will grow and spread as long as we keep them happy and she wants to know just how fast - thus am I stumped.

I know they propagate "quickly" as far as corals go, but she is not satisfied with relative terms. Can anyone help me appease her?

 

[Marchingbandjs]

they all are different. i have some that do 3-5 polpys a week, some that do 1 a month. All depends, in a couple months they will get nice... its kindof like the saying if you watch a pot of water boil it will never boil... if you watch zoa grow they will never grow.

 

[shereth]

Hmm well that at least gives me some hard numbers to share with her, hopefully that will cure the problem and I won't get the evil eye the next time I plunk down some money on a handful of polyps. Okay, I may be exaggerating a bit .. but you get the picture!

Thanks!

 

[Akimbo]

Just make sure you feed the little guys and they will reward you. Phytoplankton are the favorites of my zoos

 

[manhorsedog]

i have had the best rate of growth with hand feeding and not touching anything in the tank. I have grown anywhere from 2-70 polyps in less than or around six months.

its different for everybody but i think not touching them or moving them is something universal.

 

[CrazyZoa]

Just like the others had already said it depends on the zoa. I have one that started out as a single little polyp back in Feburary and it is only 3 polyps still.I have moved him around thinking he's not happy but nothing really changes with it. I have these cool yellow zoas that also started as a single head at the same time as the other. It took it a month or 2 to get to have 6 heads. Once it had the 6 heads it just kind of stopped forming babies. Now in just over a month it is up to 30 polyps!!! I think I can see new polyps forming everyday. Now my Solara's grow like weeds for me. I started with 4 heads again at the start of the year and I have fragged them a few times and could do so again right now. Just remember every type is different and even grow different in different tanks.

Later,
Tim

 

[staninct]

Six frags of 5-15 polyps should look great within the year. 3 months will see plenty of change, 6 months will look totally different, and a year should see them spread all over your rockwork. This, of course, depends on a ton of variables, not to mention the differences in species growth rates mentioned above. Tell your wife to be patient - this isn't a fast hobby! (Of course don't quote me, you'll be out in the street with your tank!)

 

[flyyyguy]

as said all are different but what holds true in all of them is every single time you frag them or even move them you are hurting your growth rate signifigantly

love them by leaving them be.