how do zoanthids reproduce

[melonheadorion]

pretty easy question, i guess. i know that new polyps are created, but how are those polyps created? does the end of a polyp split into a new one, kinda like how a hammer coral does? or does it pop off new polyps like they do in the gremlins movie?

 

[brmreefer]

The base of mat of the zoas spread out and develops new heads. Similar to GSP.

At least that what it seems like to me. Can say I watch them diligently 24/7.

 

[brmreefer]

Minor correction from my last post.

"Can't say I watch them diligently 24-7."

 

[beehive124]

I've always wondered that too.

 

[melonheadorion]

Minor correction from my last post.

"Can't say I watch them diligently 24-7."

i was just curious because it looks like one of my zoas has a couple polyps that look like they are splitting at the head, but am not sure if thats just how those couple polyps look

 

[brmreefer]

i was just curious because it looks like one of my zoas has a couple polyps that look like they are splitting at the head, but am not sure if thats just how those couple polyps look

I would not doubt that is possible since it is all connected to the same tissue. Nature finds a way

 

[jfoahs04]

Interesting questions. I'm not an expert and I can't certainly can't say with certainty, but I don't think they split at the head (like, say, candy canes do). Some zoas do have patterns with solid lines extending from either end of the mouth that contrast with the rest of the polyp and make it look like they're split (or splitting) in two (like these chopsticks zoas).

But I've only ever seen tiny new heads emerge from the base of the mat. It's usually a surprise because the heads are so tiny at first that you almost can't see them. I usually spot them at first as a little "bump" on the mat when everything is closed, or from the tiny spec of neon color under blue lights.

 

[melonheadorion]

Interesting questions. I'm not an expert and I can't certainly can't say with certainty, but I don't think they split at the head (like, say, candy canes do). Some zoas do have patterns with solid lines extending from either end of the mouth that contrast with the rest of the polyp and make it look like they're split (or splitting) in two (like these chopsticks zoas).

But I've only ever seen tiny new heads emerge from the base of the mat. It's usually a surprise because the heads are so tiny at first that you almost can't see them. I usually spot them at first as a little "bump" on the mat when everything is closed, or from the tiny spec of neon color under blue lights.

its late now and the lights have been out, so i cant show you right now, what it looks like, but i have attached what it looks like while its closed. as you can see, when they are closed, many of them have that solid line, but if you look at the center one, which is the one that i was alluding to, you can see that there are two lines compared to the others that you can see, that only hhave one. not only that, but you also see what seems to be 2 mouths. when these open in the day, they look like 2 polyps extremely close together. i will try to get a pic tomorrow when they open. as you can see though, they seem to be the same polyp splitting apart.

 

[melonheadorion]

Interesting questions. I'm not an expert and I can't certainly can't say with certainty, but I don't think they split at the head (like, say, candy canes do). Some zoas do have patterns with solid lines extending from either end of the mouth that contrast with the rest of the polyp and make it look like they're split (or splitting) in two (like these chopsticks zoas).

But I've only ever seen tiny new heads emerge from the base of the mat. It's usually a surprise because the heads are so tiny at first that you almost can't see them. I usually spot them at first as a little "bump" on the mat when everything is closed, or from the tiny spec of neon color under blue lights.

Here is a pic of the same coral when opened. You can see that it looks like it might be splitting. And looks to have 2 separate mouths. I can't say I've ever seen a zoa reproduce so I don't know if maybe this is just an abnormal polyp

 

[zoaprince]

Here is a pic of the same coral when opened. You can see that it looks like it might be splitting. And looks to have 2 separate mouths. I can't say I've ever seen a zoa reproduce so I don't know if maybe this is just an abnormal polyp

I don't see what you're referring to but zoas do not split like LPS do. They reproduce by extending the mat where new heads appear.

Sometimes there will be two-headed zoas but they will stay like that and will not split.

 

[Tired]

Yeah, I think that's just a two-header. A zoa that got chopped in half vertically and didn't die could very well grow into two new polyps, but they reproduce by making new little babies at the base of the polyps.