"Non-fragmentive" SPS propegation?

[shawn]

Not sure what to call it, but have people had instances where SPS has propagated without "fragmentation"? I've noticed that I have isolated Pocillopora growth that has encrusted in two places in my tank far from any colonies that I have. One is on the waterline on the glass, and another on the waterline on the spray-bar.

 

[smcnally]

It is common with pocillopora. I think it is a form of polyp bailout, but I could be wrong.

 

[JohnK]

Yup, what Steve said, polyp bail out. very common with pocillopora.

 

[shawn]

Thanks. Searched here for "polyp bail out" and found nothing. So what is it?

 

[smcnally]

It's when a coral releases a "bud" of polyps. They float to another area of the tank and start growing. I've had a torch coral and a frogspawn do it in my tank.

 

[Greg Hiller]

I've heard it can happen even with Tubipora musica (organ pipe).

 

[nichols]

I've had it happen with pocillopora, a hammer, a torch and xenia.

 

[reefjarod]

my galaxia did it

 

[JMAC]

Maybe a 5th of my side and back tank glass is covered with WELL established pocillopora polyp bailout colonies.

 

[NateHanson]

I've had it happen with pocillopora, a hammer, a torch and xenia.

When it happens with the Euphylia species, do you think it's the same bailout of polyps (as in Poccilipora), or are those reproducing by dropping buds onto the sand (looks like melting tissue that "drips" off the mother colony)? Do you get hammer/torch daughters far away from the mother, or usually right below the mother?

 

[Greg Hiller]

Nate, you can get them a ways away, and sometimes they start in small crevices.

 

[nichols]

I've also had them at the opposite end of the tank from the mother colony.

 

[NateHanson]

Thanks Bill/Greg.