So I bought this blasto merletti ...

[dixiedog]

It was five bucks, and I always wanted one.

My question is, what will I be seeing as it begins to multiply? Will this one head split, or will a second branch grow out of the side, or what? I know what a colony looks like, I just can't figure how this frag will begin to get from here to there.

 

[doublejhunter]

It will grow new buds around the sides.

 

[rogersb]

Yup, new buds around the side and It will spread almost mat-like. Eventually it will also be more like a mound or hump . I started with something similar and 4 years later it is 4" or so in diameter and probably 2" tall at the center.

 

[ThreeMoneyJ]

It will grow tiny buds around the base of the head. They then take a while to grow out. I tried to get a pic from some of mine, but the angles are all wrong!

 

[BCAqua]

Once they like location , flow and lighting. They grow pretty good. I have two different colonies. Just started fragging one of them because it got so big.

 

[Rob in Puyallup]

Will they spread across sand or do they need a solid base?

I bought a colony of these in Tacoma this past weekend.

 

[dixiedog]

It will grow tiny buds around the base of the head. They then take a while to grow out. I tried to get a pic from some of mine, but the angles are all wrong!

I know, it was a BUGGER trying to get this one grainy pic! The coral is very bright and fluorescent, and even as small as it is, it actually stands out in my well-populated 40B.

Thanks for the replies everyone, I'll be watching for those new buds!:thumbsup:

 

[Rob in Puyallup]

My new colony, a portion of it, anyway. There are about 25 polyps in this group, all for $25.00.

 

[dixiedog]

I'm jealous of the price AND of your ability to capture those colors on film. Is it really that purple?? Mine is the red variety, much prettier than the pic shows, but still not as pretty as yours look in that pic!

 

[Rob in Puyallup]

Hi again, Dixie. My photo was taken under actinics. The polyps are redder under white light.