Experimenting With the Near Impossible...Wish Me Luck!

livinlifeinBKK · May 16, 2023

It dawned on me today after buying a Porites coral with Spirobranchus giganteus (Christmas Tree Worms) that it should technically be possible to breed them and have them spread. Since they're so sought after and command such a high price, a breakthrough like this could really help a lot of hobbyists get their hands on these beautiful creatures. Now I know this seems impossible but I'm going to see just how feasible it may or may not be. Since they reproduce sexually, (meaning there are both male and female worms) under the right conditions there should be a spawning event. These things are very interesting to me and hey, what do I have to lose? The worst that could happen is gain a lot of knowledge into the biology of these beautiful inverts! Here's the piece I ordered just to show you guys.

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A Young Reefer · May 16, 2023

Good luck, this will definitely be challenging.

livinlifeinBKK · May 16, 2023

A Young reefer said:
Good luck, this will definitely be challenging.

Hey, if it weren't a challenge what would be the point?

lopez052308 · May 16, 2023

Definitely following along!! Always wanted one of these guys. Hope you are successful!

Goaway · May 16, 2023

I pray for your success. As I do love these inverts.

livinlifeinBKK · May 16, 2023

Goaway said:
I pray for your success. As I do love these inverts.

So many people do but the price puts them far out of reach for most people unfortunately

Goaway · May 16, 2023

Also. These worms will live with cyhpastrea corals. I don't know if the color of cyphastrea matters. Let me dig up a pic of the colony i wanted

livinlifeinBKK · May 16, 2023

Goaway said:
Also. These worms will live with cyhpastrea corals. I don't know if the color of cyphastrea matters. Let me dig up a pic of the colony i wanted

I think it's species dependent but i could be mistaken...here in Thailand diving I always see Porites corals hosting them so I think that's likely their preference

Goaway · May 16, 2023

I think, since larvae as all larvae would be released into the water column. Multiple places to attach would be needed. I dont know their life stages though.

livinlifeinBKK · May 16, 2023

Goaway said:
I think, since larvae as all larvae would be released into the water column. Multiple places to attach would be needed. I dont know their life stages though.

Wow that looks like an expensive piece!

Goaway · May 16, 2023

livinlifeinBKK said:
Wow that looks like an expensive piece!

It was close to 500. Very expensive. I didn't want to give up my copperband. And not ready to make a new system.

350 or 450. I forget which.

livinlifeinBKK · May 16, 2023

Goaway said:
It was close to 500. Very expensive. I didn't want to give up my copperband. And not ready to make a new system.

Can't blame you for not making the purchase...you gotta draw a line somewhere and if you've never kept them before and don't know how they'll do in your system, $500 is a big gamble

Goaway · May 16, 2023

livinlifeinBKK said:
Can't blame you for not making the purchase...you gotta draw a line somewhere and if you've never kept them before and don't know how they'll do in your system, $500 is a big gamble

I kept them for 5 years. I kind of have a good idea on how to keep them. Just not spawn them. We spoke before about them.

livinlifeinBKK · May 16, 2023

O

Goaway said:
I kept them for 5 years. I kind of have a good idea on how to keep them. Just not spawn them. We spoke before about them.

Oh sorry! I forgot we talked about it!

Goaway · May 16, 2023

No worries. You live in place you can just go gather mud from the ocean. I don't get that luxury in my location. And ocean mud is extremely expensive as of now

livinlifeinBKK · May 16, 2023

Goaway said:
No worries. You live in place you can just go gather mud from the ocean. I don't get that luxury in my location. And ocean mud is extremely expensive as of now

Not many oceans in Illinois...have you looked at AF Life Source? It's a good product.

Goaway · May 16, 2023

livinlifeinBKK said:
Not many oceans in Illinois...have you looked at AF Life Source? It's a good product.

I will look. Thank you!

A Young Reefer · May 16, 2023

livinlifeinBKK said:
O

Oh sorry! I forgot we talked about it!

I wouldn’t blame you it took me some time to figure out that @Goaway is mibu

livinlifeinBKK · May 16, 2023

Goaway said:
I will look. Thank you!

It's collected near the reefs in Fiji...I've used it myself. I'd absolutely get some and mail it to you but the postage would probably be rather expensive...