How fast do Zoas grow...?

[salty150]

How fast do Zoas grow,,,?

I realize there are differing Zoas...

But, on average, if I buy a 1" frag with 2 heads - how many heads will a typical Zoa have after 6 months... 1 year...?

 

[fishyjoes]

I think most people find they grow quite fast, like will fill in whatever space they can get.
In my case I end up with zero because apparently my tank just kills all soft coral - that is to say, there's no guarantee

 

[themcnertney]

Probably a question without an answer.
But in mu experience, they start off real slow, after so long in a tank, they adjust to water, light and routine, then boom they take off.

 

[Patx]

October 2023 to end of march 2024 (6 months)
SunnyD : 11 heads...to... 18 heads
Rasta : 11 heads ...to 14
Purple monster : 11heads....to 20 heads

January 2024 to end march 2024 (3 months)
Scrambled eggs : 6 heads...to10 heads
Blue hornet.... 4 head...to 8heads
Emmerald on fire...2 heads... to 5 heads
Bambam..... 10 heads... to 12 heads

 

[Sophie"s mom]

How fast do Zoas grow,,,?

I realize there are differing Zoas...

But, on average, if I buy a 1" frag with 2 heads - how many heads will a typical Zoa have after 6 months... 1 year...?

I think it depends on the zoa. I have read that the more expensive ones grow slower, while the less expensive grow faster. I can only go on experience, so my rasta zoa, I received in late Januart=y had 7 polyps, it now has about 26, hard to count now. Where as my spitfire zoa I received about a month ago with 4 polyps, just yesterday I noticed 2 more new heads. Hard to say, but if water is good (they like it a little dirty) nitrates at between 10ppm and 20 ppm, and good light and flow, they should grow.

 

[vetteguy53081]

How fast do Zoas grow,,,?

I realize there are differing Zoas...

But, on average, if I buy a 1" frag with 2 heads - how many heads will a typical Zoa have after 6 months... 1 year...?

For me, based on tank/water conditions, feedings and control of nutrients

 

[salty150]

Any recommendations on where to buy larger number of head Zoas...?

The ones I have seen from the 2 major players (we all know who they are) - are for 3/4"-1" Zoas with one, or sometimes two, heads.

 

[AtlantiCat]

Depends on the Zoa. I have a Rainbow Incinerator that has been in the tank for about 2 months and has gone from 6 polyps to about 23, and new ones pop up every week or so. Others I put in at the same time have produced only 3-4 new polyps.

I will note that the RCs are VERY good eaters. They will take meaty bits, mysis, brine shrimp, even small pellets. They're one of 2 I keep that I see eating solid food directly, the other being Milky Way.

 

[AtlantiCat]

Any recommendations on where to buy larger number of head Zoas...?

The ones I have seen from the 2 major players (we all know who they are) - are for 3/4"-1" Zoas with one, or sometimes two, heads.

Unless you live in an area where this is impossible, buy local. Either at shows or at your LFS. You'll get better pricing and more polyps.

Also, you can sometimes get good buys/bargains in the "Live Sales" that occur on here, where the frags are all WYSIWYG. Riptide Aquaculture had a good one a few months ago where I scored 5 frags (two zoas) and a Rock Flower Anemone for about $84 total including shipping, an average of $14 per frag.

 

[The_Paradox]

This may help. These all started out as one or two polyps. Then 30-60-90 days. Par varied but all in a LNS/ULNS.

 

[Pod_01]

As mentioned try to buy local. I had most luck with local buys. Online works but you get one if lucky two polyps and if unlucky you get empty plug because the zoa melted during shipping.

At the start try to buy cheaper ones, the reason they are cheaper is that they grow well. Expensive means they are harder to keep, slow growing etc…
You can use price to estimate how fast they will grow…