what is the optimum zoa frag count for growth?

[jenglish]

If you were trying to prop zoanthids as quickly as possible what would the optimum number of polyps per frag. I find that if there is only 3 on a frag it grows slowly at first. But a huge colony can only grow on the edges and is slow as well. So what size is juuuust right?

[kyrie_eleison]

interesting.

[jenglish]

I've grown some from a single polyp as well. Let me rephrase it this way, if you had 20 polyps, would 6 groups of 3 or 4 have more total polyps after a month than 4 groups of 5, or 20 single polyps?

[Jadinop]

Fragging from just the edges of a colony isn't going to give you the best growth. You need to frag zoanthids from the different areas inside the colony as well. This will give you more growth areas for new zoanthids to grow into.

It's a useful practice with GSP's as well. Fragging in a checkerboard type of pattern will give you much more growth than just allowing the colony to spread out from the outer edges.

[kyrie_eleison]

.

[three90s&125sump]

That's not true.

While they can "crawl" they won't neccessarily do it. They polyps can sense the proximity of other polyps and if they are crowded they won't multiply. There needs to be realestate available for them to sped to. I would say that if you had 20 single polyps with room to grow in an upwards path you would get the most polyps in the long run. I have noticed that when the polyps bend them selves over like on a verticle ledge the mother polyp will move up leaving a trail be hind it that will sprout new polyps. I have some in my cooking tank with bearly any light on it that are doing just that right now. They have more than doubled in two weeks.

[Fly Guy]

answering this thread is like deja vu..........I think Ive seen it somewhere else.

how you go about fragging most certainly has an affect on growth. Jadinops checkerboard comment is a great one, not only just to give them space and more linear area to grow to, but at least as importantly you only really disrupt what you cut out, and sonw right can more or less leave the rest of the colony be to do its thing

[jenglish]

LOL, yes Fly, I am a Forum tramp

I was thinking about geometry and volume vs. surface area. It seems to me that maximum surface area would be individual polyps but that doesn't seem to = maximum growth IME. I thought perhaps someone had stumbled upon a magic number I think if Shakes the Clown here tried to cut out a checker board I would frag a finger! I can see how that could maximize growth though.

[Fly Guy]

Originally Posted by jenglish

I think if Shakes the Clown here tried to cut out a checker board I would frag a finger!.

often my tool or choice for fragging polyps is a new scalpel and or a new heavy duty razor.

Dont ever understimate just how easily a tiny slip with a scalpel with a tiny bit of pressure behind it can go right through rock and to the bone

[Loverotties]

Ouch!!!

[Mr.Peanut]

That's nasty!!!

[Siberman]

Dude! You just had to show that again, didn't you?

[jenglish]

I did a number like that with a skinner once, didn't even feel it. I am weird about lacerations to fingers or toes. I didn't feel the cut but when I saw it I nearly passed out.