Do I have to feed every polyp?

b.branscombe · #1 03/08/2007, 01:34 PM

I have a fairly large favites colony with many polyps and I've been doing a bit of supplemental feeding. Does the catch from one polyp feed the whole colony?

All Delight · #2 03/08/2007, 03:24 PM

When I have a small frag, I'll feed most of the polyps. But if its a big colony, I'll just spread food over the colony and lef them share.

nmprisons · #3 03/08/2007, 05:58 PM

All Delight is righ ... no need to feed every mouth, but you certainly can if your water conditions can handle it.

Some of the nutrients are shared, but it is not like an animal with one mouth whose whole body benefits equally from food. The further away from the mouth that is getting food you go, the less nutrition is shared.

b.branscombe · #4 03/08/2007, 08:22 PM

Got it. The colony probably has a good 60 polyps or so, so I don't have the time nor the bioloading capabilities to feed every one. I'll probably just give it a good squirt now and then and figure that it will average out eventually.

On a slightly related note, I was amazed how much one polyp can devour. Pretty surprising to see one of them eat a whole mysis shrimp.

sndwave80 · #5 03/09/2007, 11:43 PM

I would agree with the other two. Between you target feeding, Food in the water and the waste that is breaking down that your corals are feeding off of. You do not need to target feed every one.