Zoa varieties and reproduction.

[Beckmola24]

This is a random question regarding the different color variations of zoas..... Can you take separate zoa colonies and have them reproduce and get a completely different color variation? Does my question make sense? I've noticed that the ones I have vary slightly from zoa to zoa... I guess this is also a zoa reproduction question as well. I'm rather new to zoas so I haven't done a ton of research on them yet. Thanks in advance!!

 

[hypostatic]

Zoas will generally reproduce by budding. This is asexual reproduction, and the buds are essentially clones of each other. If you have two different strains/colonies/frags next to each other and they grow into each other, they will not make a new variety.

Zoas DO also reproduce sexually, and this way WOULD make it possible to make new varieties, but this doesn't usually happen in aquariums

 

[Wryknow]

The colors will change considerably based on the lighting type and intenisty though.

 

[Beckmola24]

Interesting. So there is a small possibility they can reproduce sexually.... I read all of that but am interested in how the different color variations come about. For example, I have a zoa rock and several of the polyps are slightly different whether the center or skirt are slightly different.

 

[kalan850]

Check out planetzoas nuclear death pallys. Seems like they know how it works morphing a nuclear green with a purple death.