zoanthid morph

[bassplaya12]

A couple months ago we bought a fairly large colony that had two types of zoa's on it. We fragged a bit off shortly after.

We noticed yesterday that the frag is very different from the original colony. The red faced polyps now have the yellow skirt from the green face ones that were also in the colony. Nothing else has changed, or has been shared from one polyp to the next other than the change of skirt color. Is this a common thing? I've seen some posts of people purposely trying to "morph" zoa's, but this just happened on it's own.

 

[kichimark]

You mention two types of zoas. Did you frag off one complete different morph and leave the other morph on the original colony?

It is quite possible that when you purchased the zoas that they might have not been at their full potential in the previous tank due to lighting or other factors. A number of times I have noticed recently bought zoas and palys adjust by changing color hue (slight change) to my tank or vice versa. I suspect adjustment to the different lighting is the key. Stress may also be a factor with the piece that was cut.

another question...did the zoas change color overnight?

 

[Jarred1]

That is very neat, sometimes in different lighting conditions the polyps will change.

 

[bassplaya12]

You mention two types of zoas. Did you frag off one complete different morph and leave the other morph on the original colony?

It is quite possible that when you purchased the zoas that they might have not been at their full potential in the previous tank due to lighting or other factors. A number of times I have noticed recently bought zoas and palys adjust by changing color hue (slight change) to my tank or vice versa. I suspect adjustment to the different lighting is the key. Stress may also be a factor with the piece that was cut.

another question...did the zoas change color overnight?

I'm assuming it didn't happen overnight, but I just noticed it. It was a colony of two completely different types of zoas. The frag had some of both on it. I only find it sort of interesting because the hue is the exact same as the other type's skirt now.

That is very neat, sometimes in different lighting conditions the polyps will change.

The skirt went from a brownish green to an extremely bright yellow. Definitely a change for the better

 

[A. Grandis]

About the color of the skirts to be like the other type of zoa's skirts, is just a coincidence. I mean, they won't exchange pigments.

Yeah, the morph is just what they need to do when adapting to a new light.
If they don't bleach, they morph.

There are other things that would probably play with color morphism on zoas, but it's mainly the light change. I believe water chemistry and food/nutrients ingestion/absorption could contribute to some extent.

Have fun!!

Grandis.

 

[faceman]

i had color change when i switched from t5 to leds. i also had color loss when i fragged. im guessing due to the stress the fragged polyp lost its color but slowly regained it over time