Green Star Polyps vs. Mushroom rock

[Gaffes]

I've got an 80g FOWLR that contains a bunch of soft corals.

There is a big mat of green star polyps that is flourishing and heading west. To the west there is a very healty set of green hairy mushrooms. The gap between the two corals is about one inch and quickly shrinking. What is about to happen? Will the corals ever meet? Will one overpower the other?

 

[Anonymous]

Generally speaking, corals do practice chemical warfare for space. Sort of a "sting thy neighbor" philosophy :lol: . Light also plays a part, one coral can shade the other out of existance. In this case IMO, neither type of coral is particularly chemically aggressive, but I'd imagine light will factor in, with the muchrooms shading out the GSP. It should be rather self limiting.

YMMV...

 

[Anonymous]

GSP's spread like crazy, especially with current.
I love this coral, hardy and attractive. Also best kept in check! :wink:

 

[Gaffes]

Thanks for the info...my friends and I are actually making wagers on the title bout. The gsp is advancing quickly in the direction of the 'shrooms. Something has to give soon.

I am really happy to see these guys start to spread. I can never have any hard corals, inverts, or other fish in the tank, since it currently houses a 5" specimen of the guy pictured in JimM's avatar. So, instead, I want to cover the tank in softies.

 

[Anonymous]

keep us updated, and pictures would be great. you could start a poll thread about the outcome.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the info...my friends and I are actually making wagers on the title bout. The gsp is advancing quickly in the direction of the 'shrooms. Something has to give soon.

I am really happy to see these guys start to spread. I can never have any hard corals, inverts, or other fish in the tank, since it currently houses a 5" specimen of the guy pictured in JimM's avatar. So, instead, I want to cover the tank in softies.

A mushroom, star polyp undulatus tank is in the plans for me as well! 120 gallons or so...someday.

 

[mr_X]

my vote is fore the hairy mushrooms- paper covers rock :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Gaffes]

Lawdawg, I'll try to post pics if i have time over the next couple of days.

JimM, the softie/undulated tank is a great idea. My specimen sure has alot of character! But, in case you were not aware, the undulated triggerfish grows veeerrryy slowly. My tank is only 80g, and I've had the guy for about 8 years, and he is still less than 5".

I am feeding him a whole cube of formula one a day, and hoping he gets to 8" someday.

 

[mr_X]

you might try a varied diet, and a bigger tank :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

Lawdawg, I'll try to post pics if i have time over the next couple of days.

JimM, the softie/undulated tank is a great idea. My specimen sure has alot of character! But, in case you were not aware, the undulated triggerfish grows veeerrryy slowly. My tank is only 80g, and I've had the guy for about 8 years, and he is still less than 5".

I am feeding him a whole cube of formula one a day, and hoping he gets to 8" someday.

Yep, very aware. The most frustrating thing about some species - see my article here.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2007/7/ ... rm=trigger

FYI, this is slow even for this species. They normally put on about an inch a year or so. More water changes may help.

 

[Gaffes]

...see my article here.

LOL, I came across that article recently when wondering about my trigger's growth rate. I was basically quoting your own article back to you.

Any recommendations from either of you on diet? As I said I am currently giving a full cube of frozen food each day, alternating between formula one, formula one very high protein, and formula one trigger food. He doesn't seem to really like the food that much, which surprised me for a trigger. Sometimes he only eats half the cube, but usually goes back and finishes it later in the day.

Every once in a while I throw a crab or fish in there for him to eat.

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah, GSPs can be beautiful. One of my favorites and one of the easiest to keep happy.

If you don't want it to wrastle your mushrooms, you can put some rubble/shells between the two. The GSPs will attach to that while spreading, and then you can just cut it off...and it's already mounted.

 

[Anonymous]

As ever, a varied and high quality diet is key. WHOLE food items are important as well. These fish are predatory, they don't just eat the "meat" of the various prey items. Whole shrimp and fish are good in this regard, as well as everything at your local seafood counter.

More water changes may be necessary to negate the effects of growth inhibiting substances in the water, and the metabolic negative feedback loop that results.

This fish should have a healthy appetite, and be feed 2 or 3 times a day.