How do button polyps spread

The exterior slime coating on some types of palys is among the most toxic to humans as compared to other common corals in the hobby. For this reason, please handle palys with care. I would recommend wearing rubber glove whenever you handle corals.

Tags: Button Polyps , palys , Palythoas , Protopalythoa sp. Toggle navigation Reef Aquarium. Water Conditions The below link highlights typical water conditions palys will require. I would recommend wearing rubber glove whenever you handle corals Fragging Palys can be easily fragged with very high success Recommended Reading:.

Acclimating Corals. The photosynthesis is mediated through the presence of zooxanthellae algae in the polyp, which acts as a symbiont, producing energy in return for a place to thrive. As well as the capacity for photosynthesis, the corals can obtain energy and nutrients from small marine life, such as plankton or brine shrimp. In nature, the button polyps collect this food as it drifts toward the polyps in the water current.

The polyps do not attack larger organisms such as blenny fish, although larger organisms like crustaceans or butterfly fish can damage the polyps through nibbling on the ends of the tentacles. Growth and spread of the button polyps occurs through budding off an existing polyp. The new bud, which is attached to the base of the first polyp, grows off and into a new adult polyp. A similar coral to button polyps, the Sea Mat looks superficially the same but can be differentiated through the presence of a large mat from which new polyps bud off, as opposed to the lack of a base mat that is characteristic of the button polyps.

The cool part is that once you've acquired a small frag it's fairly easy to get them to grow. Don't waste money on the larger frags. A polyp or two will soon turn into four which turns into eight and on and on. What kind of water parameters do these zoanthids require? Give these corals moderate to high alkalinity, calcium and salinity levels and they should grow well.

Moderate to high lighting levels are good for better growth rates. These zoas grow in colonial mat like growths and with time can cover the live rock completely. Fragging them couldn't be easier. It does take a little time for them to spread, but once they do you can trade frags with friends, at club meetings or even try to sell them back to the local shop for store credit or even cash.

See the how to frag section below for fragging ideas. There is a warning when keeping them. Some species of zoanthids can be toxic to humans, notably the palythoas. Wear gloves when handling them or if your hands and arms have to be in the tank for whatever reason. Wash your hands thoroughly after you're finished working with them. These are really interesting looking reef organisms and there is sure to be a color morph out there that suits you.