Sarcophyton spawning like crazy! possible fertilized eggs...

andrewkw · Oct 4, 2020

So I look over at my tank and my giant green leather is closed up. Then I see the white dots. I assumed it was spawning. After a few minutes I realized it's actually my Sarcophyton (Toadstool). Now these guys drop frags all the time, but I have always suspected they spawn. I had a few pop up in my frag tank where there shouldn't be any and they were just a couple of polyps.

Anyway this went on for a good 20-30 minutes. At first I was just in awe, then I realized I should be taking pictures / video. Then my slr camera died. Fortunately my wife just got a new phone so I got some footage with my camera and some with her iphone11. Then I realized I should look at them under a microscope. At first nothing special. They are white dots you can't see into, but then I found one that maybe was in the process of being fertilized?

I collected a bunch and put them in a container floating in my frag tank with an airline. We'll see what happens. I'm really tired but wanted to share this exciting time right away. I will put together a longer video tomorrow.

Ron Reefman · Oct 4, 2020

Very cool! I think it's exciting when almost anything spawns in our tank!

andrewkw · Oct 4, 2020

The screen cap is acropora, but it does look similar. Of course the eggs I have may just be falling apart. They continue to tumble at a slow speed. I should have put some frag tiles in to allow them to settle onto them. I might add a few small plugs. At least according to this video it takes acropora a few days to become larvae then settle.

andrewkw · Oct 5, 2020

Looks like most of them have just turned to a pile of goo

Of course I have no idea how many were actually fertilized. Since they are contained to a little container I will leave it floating for another day and look at them under the microscope tomorrow. I believe they probably only spawn once a year but if I do happen to see it again I will try and collect the whole batch and put them in something larger then a container that contains a cup or 2 of water.

andrewkw · Oct 6, 2020

I am going to guess this is bacteria but I have no idea. This is from the "goo" which was on the opposite side of the container from most of the eggs.