Chalice from frag to Colony..How Long?

[FaviaFreak]

Just curious as to what some of you veteran Echino keepers have to say in regards to how long one should expect a single eyed chalice frag to grow into a small colony of let's say 20 eyes or more. Of course I know of the different variables that come into play and that no two systems are alike. The species is also of utmost importance for factoring in growth rate but let's put that aside and speculate. Is it safe to say that a single eyed Tyree Pink Watermelon that was fragged and sold to reefer X would take at least 2-3 years to achieve small colony proportions? assuming a small colony equals 20+ eyes..Just more or less wondering how long it is going to take me to get a MM and Pink ******* j/k... I'm just curious as to how folks like Alicia, Kenny, Mark, Ian and others who have achieved those proportions on their pieces have to say and what advice and tips they can offer up...besides patience of course :D

Can't you tell how impatient I am by asking this question :tongue:

 

[mpoletti]

That depends Kevin. Some can do it in a year like the BGM or MH just to name a few. Others, like my tyree red grows slow to moderate at best so over the last two years It has went from 1 eye to about 12 and it completely covered a disk until last week.
Some people say the red grows fast...I really question if Alicia and I have the real one then :D

 

[mpoletti]

I do not frag my chalices very often as I like 3-4" mini colonies. I have recently made a couple frags of every piece in my collection so I will actually have a grow out colony to frag from or to offer up if I really "need" something.

 

[FaviaFreak]

Thanks Mark for the input! I figured once they hit a certain size they take off...my MH from Ian Iwane grows like a weed, just wished my others did :)

 

[slojmn]

Mark...oh yea, it's the real deal, hehehe :D.

I have found that the slow growing chalices take off a bit more when they hit the 50 cent piece size. But in all honesty I get some nice growth spurts after fragging some of those slow growers. I'd say to get a 20 eye frag of the original red or pink watermelon it takes a couple years, maybe faster if you spot feed (which I don't). The BGM and MH are super fast growers as everyone can attest to. But a lot of my watermelon types are slower, especially when they start out so small. I am finding that some of the newer variations of chalices that I have gotten off EBay are looking to be kind of slow as well. Hard to say as they are just small frags. The SnakeEyes Chalice looks to be a bit quicker growing. I have never let a chalice get to 20 eyes except one in my tank that I have never fragged. Most are good for trading and selling in order to get more and more and more and more...LOL. There are a few that I have now that I don't plan on fragging so time will tell how long it takes to get to 20 eyes :D. BTW, I don't even consider the Bazooka Joe capable of growing more than an inch every two years. That chalice has got to be the all-time slowest growing of them all.

 

[MarvinsReef]

my Orig ME is a decent grower... 6 eyes to about 20 eyes in 7 months... about 10 eyes popped out the last 2 months of that 7 months growth span... then, we fragged it.... lost almost all of them... we had about 8 frags... :( :( :( you guys have seen these already but for this thread, I'll post them again... LoLz... my colony is back to the pic on 11-20-08 but with 10 eyes...

07-09-08

11-20-08

02-18-09

btw, MH means Miami Hurricane?!?

 

[cee]

Pink and red Tyree and sniper raspberry are very slow. Both of mine have grown very little in almost a year. Can't comment on the rest except for some unnamed chalices I have which grow considerably faster. I hope you're patient on some of them.

Dave

 

[Hypertek99]

I got a Tyree Alien Eye chalice last year about 2inches now it's about 4 inches with over 60 eyes and it grows like crazy. Once they grow out big they grow super fast. I already trimmed it down to 2inches twice already and it's back at 4 inches already.

 

[roshi719]

Flame thrower is a painfully slow grower for me. Going from about 5 eyes to 12 eyes in a year. Pink watermelon is also a slow grower in my tank. Doubled in size in a year. Considering it started as the size of a pencil eraser, I'd say that's pretty good.

 

[Hypertek99]

Yeah the watermelons are all slow for me. My Desert Sunset was growing pretty good at first but seem to have slowed down. Hell's Kitchen is growing super fast.

 

[aaronlovesshel]

i purchased the first frag of the original tyree wm alien eye challice. It stayed in my tank for several months w/ very little growth (although noticeable) and then I moved it to a friends tank (rc tank of month) but still very little growth - it has been injured several times. I have had very poor growth; however, I have not spot fed or generically fed the tank either.

thanks everyone for your shots!

 

[Hypertek99]

Once they get injured it takes it awhile for them to readjust and slows down the growing.

 

[FaviaFreak]

good idea to give them tons of room for stingers

 

[Hypertek99]

good idea to give them tons of room for stingers

Def. Some of mine have super long sweepers and some short.

 

[amore169]

Great thread.

 

[aaronlovesshel]

thx folks for the information on stingers and injury, I have wondered whether or not this guy would ever take off, I will be sure to allow for alot of room going forward!