How long does it take for zoos to spread?

dutchswan

dutchswan

Member
I have read about zoos expanding 2 or 3 polyps per month (though it really depends on the size of the colony). What I would really like to visualize is how long does it take to cover a certain area. For instance, if my frag is 3" x 2" with about 2 dozen polyps, how long would it take for it to cover the rest of the rock...a total area that is about 6" x 4" (a 400% increase)? Assume ideal water conditions.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
There are so many factors that can go into their growth (water parameters, lighting, tank inhabitants, what type of zoanthids, etc) that I'm not sure if you'll get a definitive answer. I've had certain zoanthids take over a frag plug in 2-3 months when starting with 3-5 polyps originally and then I've had others that just don't spread at all. Sometimes it's the same variety, in the same tank, sometimes not. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it, at least that has been my experience.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/383560/how-long-does-it-take-for-zoos-to-spread#post_3355615
There are so many factors that can go into their growth (water parameters, lighting, tank inhabitants, what type of zoanthids, etc) that I'm not sure if you'll get a definitive answer. I've had certain zoanthids take over a frag plug in 2-3 months when starting with 3-5 polyps originally and then I've had others that just don't spread at all. Sometimes it's the same variety, in the same tank, sometimes not. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it, at least that has been my experience.

+1
I get the largest colony I can, because I have no patience to start with two or three. I had a neon dagon eyes (so it was called) it spread like crazy and it was real pretty, I also had Eagle eyes with the orange face in the same tank...it was just a little 7 polyp cluster...months later it had doubled then it kind of froze in time and didn't do anything much. The neon one became a huge colony.
The heater breaking killed the eagle eyes, the dragon eyes opened up and seemed fine..but it has slowly been dying off since the incident, the rock it was on is nearly clear with just a few polyps left in the crevices.
 
1snapple

1snapple

Active Member
I would do 3-4 small frags over a rock, multiple starting points.
Okay, my eagle eyes grow 2-3 polyps a week and there are 2 dozen on the frag.
My Mohawk Palys haven't grown 1 head in 2 months.
same with my orange explosion zoas.
Had them for 3 months w/ 4 heads.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Yes, but leave room. Although I have seen colonies of mixed zoanthids, usually one will become dominant and take over the others. Something to keep in mind when placing zoas near each other.
 
novahobbies

novahobbies

Well-Known Member
There was a great article in CORAL magazine about this a few months ago. BTLDreef pretty much hit it on the head -- there are SO many factors involved, there's no one definitive answer. There are only a scant dozen or so described individual species of Zoas in the world that we collect; color morphs do not a species make. But individual color morphs in the same species react very differently to light situations, flow, and possibly even pressure (which we can't do much about!) Also, many colonies that exhibit high growth rates will sometimes go through periods of recession, so you'll see a blooming colony suddenly close up and start melting back for no apparent reason.
I'll see if I can pull that issue of CORAL. If you have a large public library they may have back issues.
 
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