Hydnophora Growth

[oimate84]

I have a hydnophora that seems to be doing really well, tissues are real fleshy when it expands, but I was wondering, how does this coral actually grow. It seems like the skeleton doesnt grow, or does it? or does it just encrust other rock? thanks....

 

[Minh Nguyen]

Depends on the species of the Hydnophora that you have. Of the several species, one do not encrust at all (I think the H. rigida, I don't have my book with me)
Overall, they grow like any other SPS but grow on the slow side. After 3 years, my colony started at .5 inches, is about 8 inches wide. It is very beautiful with very bright florescent green. In comparison, I got several SPS that grew to 2 feet in a shorter length of time.
Minh Nguyen

 

[Len]

I agree with Minh about the growth rates. Mine have always been very slow to grow compared to other SPS.

 

[Anonymous]

Minh is right. Some Hydrophora encrusts, but some don't. My experience is that they are not particularly slow growing, as both Len and Minh indicated... it is certainly slower than some elkhorns, but that's because the skeleton is more dense. Mine grow pretty fast, and I feel it has to do with the lower Kelvin bulb that I use. The specimens that I have also does not sting as far.

Some people told me that the encrusting variety is more aggressive, but I don't really know...

 

[liquid]

Hi David and

Shane

 

[Leopardshark]

my hydnopora grows very fast, it is a branching fluorescent green, definitely one of my favorite corals.

 

[oimate84]

Here is a picture of my hydnophora. Can anyone identify which species it is...Thanks

 

[oimate84]

 

[brandon4291]

I once had an electric green hyd in my pico reef, it was by far my most favorite specimen Ive ever housed mainly because finding a frag that small in LFS is rare these parts. Mine was rather slow to grow, and didn't extend well until I stepped up the calcium regimen. The frag was one inch long, and two months into it my boxer crab knocked it off it's post and during the night a particular eunicid worm took it and plugged up a hole in the rockwork with it. Never saw it again. Busy little predators they are--Ive seen this 6" worm eat other pods, mushroom corals etc and they always try to plug up holes with small items. A hassle for sure, but they certainly have advanced neural structures considering the other bugs they live among. This cool hydnophora thread got me to reminiscing.

 

[Anonymous]

oimate84 Posted: 21 Jun 2003 11:06 Post subject:

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Here is a picture of my hydnophora. Can anyone identify which species it is...Thanks

I believe it is H. Rigida.

Louey