Caulastrea Reproduction Picture

[Grayout]

Here's a photo of my Caulastrea reproducing. It has been in my tank for about a year. I rescued it from a lfs that had no idea what it was doing. I hand fed it for months and it finally started to bud profusely. In the last few weeks it has started to drop tissue. Pretty neat little picture. Soon I'll have another to deal with.

[Grayout]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/559/59186Reproduction__1_.jpg

[birdie]

It looks like melting ice cream. Good job and good luck

Peace
Richard

[Grayout]

Yea, it sure does. It is very bizarre looking and boarderline obscene. I wasn't sure how to rate it XXX for the kids.

[Jus Reefin]

Wow my colony just splits heads in half all of the time. I have never seen this form of reproduction!!

[clsund]

I've never seen reproduction like that either. I've had many heads split in half but never drop a bud. Pretty interesting. Keep us updated.

[Grayout]

well, as of today it continues to stretch and has almost reached the substrate. the coral budded so extensively after several months i think it outgrew itself. the bud to the right of the current tissue dropping will probably do the same. i am assuming that it will eventually detach the tissue and i will update you all with another photo. ive seen a picture in Eric Borneman's book showing a pinapple coral drop tissue in this manner. i am just assuming that this coral will do the same.

[birdie]

grayout,
The tissue will seperate shortly after it makes contact with the substrate. I have seen it happen several times with the corals at work in the displays. It is an amazing thing to see happen especially the first time

[Grayout]

yea, it's already starting to split a bit. ill probably take the tissue and put it in my propagation tank. i believe that it is a genetic clone of the parent.

[BillnJennh]

When it drops off like that, does it actually have a piece of skeleton attached--or does the skeleton develop after the tissue comes into contact with the substrate?

[birdie]

BillnJennh,
It should have a small peice of skeleton already inside of the tissue ball that will grow as the coral does.

Peace
Richard

[s13silvia]

wow thats a cool pic and something i've never seen before! :eek:

[Grayout]

well, today the coral tissue has reached the rock just beneath it. the tissue has become very thin and it just about to break off. it is very similar looking to the way xenia grow. I'll update the photo in a day or so.

[SR HELLBOY]

Not something you see everyday, but really cool.:smokin:

[Grayout]

hello all, this sure does seem to be a pretty popular thread. So, I will soon add a photo of the new caulastrea tissue/frag that is developing as we speak. Pretty neat thing to see.

[clsund]

***Impatiently waiting for pic*** :cool:

[bond007069]

me too

[Grayout]

I wanted to let the tissue actually mature a little bit. It's feeding tentacles are already showing and it has a kind of caulastrea form. Next thread will be the picture.

[Grayout]

Well, I went to take a photo of the detached tissue today and I couldnt find it. I think one of my pygmy angels found it interesting and started picking at it. It is no longer where it was and may be back in the rockwork now. Another mystery of the deep I guess. However, there is good news! My Caulastrea is just about to drop another large portion of tissue which will be much more dramatic than the first. I'll give it another week or so before the process starts. I included another picture of the first reproduction and the aftermath. Take a look at the tissue mass that is about to drop.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/518/59186Reproduction.jpg http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/518/59186Picture_003.jpg http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/518/59186Picture_004.jpg

[scubadude]

Sweet Pics Grayout! :D

Please keep us updated

[Grayout]

Will do. That lower portion of the coral is just about to drop its tissue which will be even more spectacular than the first. I'll keep you all posted.

[davejnz]

thats really cool,my Caulastrea is doing the same thing right now.
Mine started a couple months ago after damaging one of the heads while epoxying it to LR.It has since drooped tissue and is about to drop off with a tiny piece of skeleton attached to it.

[davejnz]

here's a pic of mine,although probably not true polyp extrusion because it was induced by injuryhttp://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/518/37881caulastrea.JPG

[Grayout]

the second portion of the larger tissue will be dropping shortly. i watch it daily and it gets heavier and heavier. This one should be very impressive.

[Reefmedic79]

Is it beeter to have some LR for the tissue to fall on or to let fall to the substrate?

[Grayout]

I would assume that the tissue would have an easier time generating another animal while on the rock. these corals are generally found within the reef structure so I'm assuming the generated tissue would do the same. Just a few more days and the next clump of tissue will be dropping. Oh yea, my branching frogspawn is reproducing via bilaterial fission. I'll have to include that photo too.