Let's talk about polyp size

[Paintguru]

What impacts polyp size? What causes two similar palys/zoas to be two drastically different sizes? What attributes promote larger polyps?

 

[aaronlovesshel]

ooo, oooo, I would really like to hear the input on this one, while we are at it can we also talk about skirt length? I do not wish to hijack but curious if there is a relationship here.

 

[Sikryd]

Head size? or length

From what I have seen - length can be stretched when they want more light
As far as head size - that would be from better water conditions and nutrients - as far as I can tell in my tank.

 

[acanman]

some zoas are just micro polyped and others are bigger........ head wise

 

[aaronlovesshel]

there are indeed natural variances in sizes of polyps; however, within a given colony it is easy to see "huge" polyps and "small" polyps. I have wondered if it relates to the maturity of the polyps involved in addition to water quality, flow, nutrients available (as a different consideration to water quality.)

 

[Gimili the Great]

kind of on topic, what causes zoas to shrink to micro proportions?

 

[acanman]

there are indeed natural variances in sizes of polyps; however, within a given colony it is easy to see "huge" polyps and "small" polyps. I have wondered if it relates to the maturity of the polyps involved in addition to water quality, flow, nutrients available (as a different consideration to water quality.)

id say so prob alot has to do with the maturity of the polyp.. cause if the others around get big then it really cant be nutrients cause there so close... thats what id think.... ya its wierd i glued some zoa frags on rock and now its been 4 months or so and there 3 different types and 2 are regular size zoas and one is a micropolyped zoa thats what i was meaning by my post before this

 

[Paintguru]

I bring this up because it seems as if in my tanks I have a propensity for smaller polyps sizes, even on palys that are known to get big. For example, my Nuclear Greens have yet to grow bigger than a pencil eraser, even after quite a while in my tanks. On the other hand, I have some PD's that are big and continue to be big. My Purple Hornet frag started out as a reasonably sized polyp, but have now (once it started to spread) turned into much smaller polyps (still open and all). It seems as if some folks *coughMarvincough* have the amazing ability to get all their polyps to be quite large and full while others will have the same polyps but see them stay on the small size. I do agree that part of this is maturity, but eventually, you would think the polyps would transition from small to large.

 

[dtpollard]

I find light and flow play a significant role on polyp size. The cool thing about having mutiple frags is you get to see what happens due to placement, even in the same tank. For me High light and mod-high flow yeild smaller polyps. The same zoas in a lower light area of the tank will get much bigger heads, like they are increaseing surface area to get more light. It is most apparent in my Whamin Watermelons. This is for the same type of zoas apples to apples and all.

 

[mevstheworld]

I find light and flow play a significant role on polyp size. The cool thing about having mutiple frags is you get to see what happens due to placement, even in the same tank. For me High light and mod-high flow yeild smaller polyps. The same zoas in a lower light area of the tank will get much bigger heads, like they are increaseing surface area to get more light. It is most apparent in my Whamin Watermelons. This is for the same type of zoas apples to apples and all.

I have some horizons that are the same. I am constantly monitoring my tank, at least a good 3+hrs a day:nerd:. I have noticed my polyps get small when they are multiplying. Food 4 thought!!!