Blue star polyp....eggs?

Bogdan177 · Sep 19, 2018

So I've had Reef tanks since 2010 and I have never seen this, I have had some blue star polyps that I keep around just as a filler and kill them off when they get to close to other coral. But today I noticed what I would call eggs on the polyps, I have never heard of these reproducing sexually so I am hoping someone may know what these are. Sorry for poor photo qualities as my zoom wont keep them in focus but all the white dots are clusters of "eggs"

norfolkgarden · Sep 19, 2018

Yes. They are larval polyps.

They were all the rage back in the 90's (?).

They were the first coral to spawn for most people.
Amazing and unheard of at the time.

Now....

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/eliminating-blue-clove-polyps-with-fenbendazole.308994/

They are still for sale from some vendors.
Lol, I have thought about adding them on and off.
Apparently after having them for about 2 years it is something that a lot of people get over.

How long have you had them?
It sounds like you have been doing a comfortable job controlling them up until now.

Bogdan177 · Sep 19, 2018

Ok good to know at least it's not some parasite that I haven't heard of that miraculously spawned.
I've had a piece of these since around 2011 once I first went from FOWLR into coral and have since kept a small piece around and let it grow out to fill dead space and kill them back if I was adding a new coral or they got a little too cozy with neighbors. They have survived numerous tank crashes that took everything else out. I have found the best way to control them is to put Kalk paste on them. I also noticed that Kenya tree coral, Chalices and Acans will kill them but most other coral will succumb to the Blue Star Polyps.
Thank you for the answer!

norfolkgarden · Sep 19, 2018

Good info! Thanks.
Do you know how they do against xenia or GSP or palys or Frogspawn or Duncan or gorgonians ?

Lol, I was always fascinated with BCP but know of the elimination threads more than anything.

Thanks!