August Coral of the Month: Blastomussa

aquaman3680 · 08-17-2007, 03:55 PM

General Information: In the Blastomussa species there are only two species, Blastomussa merleti and Blastomussa wellsi. The main difference in these two species is the size of the polyp. B. wellsi has a much larger polyp much like a mushroom or a ricordia. B. merleti has a smaller polyp much like a zoanthid. How to best care for these two species and their needs are much the same.

Lighting and Water flow: Blastos differ in lighting needs from colony to colony. This has a lot to do with the conditions in which they were collected from. Some Blastomussa colonies like medium flow and high light others may like very little flow and very little light. My suggestion with them would be to acclimate them carefully to high light and if they don’t like high light keep them lower in the tank. The only colony of B. wellsi I own is in medium light and high flow.

Aggressiveness: Blastos are not at all aggressive. They are a species that has very short sweeper tentacles. Obviously something that is a couple centimeters away has the chance of being stung by them but they aren’t going to attack something 2” away.

Hardiness: Both of these species are very hardy once established and acclimated to light and flow. They can also become fast growers.

Feeding: Most of their food comes from the zooanthellae that hosts inside the coral that produces food for the coral through the light. But additional feedings of mysis shrimp or any other type of food small enough to swallow are great for accelerated growth.

Propagation: These may be propagated by cutting through the skeleton. They should heal over fairly quickly.

Blastomussa wellsi

This a picture of my only colony of Blastos.

Blastomussa merleti

Hope you all enjoyed this one! Feel free to ask questions, share pictures, and offer suggestions!

Matt

sasquatch · 08-17-2007, 04:03 PM

Pretty cool colors! how large would a single polyp get to be?

panmanmatt · 08-17-2007, 04:07 PM

Great info, Matt. Here are my only wellsis for now. Have more coming next week. I'll try to get a pic of my merlettis too.

cheeks69 · 08-17-2007, 04:12 PM

Oh I love Blastos !

Here's a Wellsi

Merletti

My red Wellsi has done extremely well under the Halides but not my green Wellsi nor the Merletti in fact the latter has declined over time, I have to shade it and it still hasn't recovered. The Wellsi are very easy to feed and will eat anything meaty.

kathywithbirds · 08-17-2007, 04:17 PM

So are these considered SPS or LPS?

panmanmatt · 08-17-2007, 04:17 PM

Love those red ones Cheeks. I have been looking for reds for a while, but always miss them by a couple days. One of these days, I will have some.

I keep my blastos under 4x39w T5 lighting and they seem happy so far.

aquaman3680 · 08-17-2007, 04:25 PM

Steve-A single polyp on a large welsi can grow to be 1-2" across.

Kathy- These are considered LPS as they have a very fleshy large polyp.

Awesome picturers Robert and Matt! I would love to get more blastos!

Matt

kathywithbirds · 08-17-2007, 04:43 PM

Thanks!

Also, is it necessary to target feed every mouth on a colony? I could ask this of other corals you'd target feed too; is the colony considered a single entity (and therefore gets food no matter what polyp gets food) or is each polyp singular?

cheeks69 · 08-17-2007, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kathywithbirds

Thanks!

Also, is it necessary to target feed every mouth on a colony? I could ask this of other corals you'd target feed too; is the colony considered a single entity (and therefore gets food no matter what polyp gets food) or is each polyp singular?

You don't have to target feed these corals but they will grow larger and multiply more quickly if you target feed them. Also I don't think these polyps are connected so they should be fed individually, but I may be wrong.

hma · 08-17-2007, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aquaman3680

Steve-A single polyp on a large welsi can grow to be 1-2" across.

Kathy- These are considered LPS as they have a very fleshy large polyp.

Awesome picturers Robert and Matt! I would love to get more blastos!

Matt

...well, this are my Blasto

cheeks69 · 08-17-2007, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by panmanmatt

Love those red ones Cheeks.

Thanx Matt.
Yours look awesome, love the orange tones on the edge of the polyp

BTW beautiful Merletti Heinz !

Dentoid · 08-17-2007, 06:37 PM

Here's the one I just got today!

hma · 08-17-2007, 06:49 PM

@scott

Is these Blasto coloured ? Blastos in this colour are unknown to me.

.... whether coloured or not, they looks simply wonderful.

Dentoid · 08-17-2007, 07:00 PM

Thanks Heinz!

These are not dyed, if that is what you are asking.
They are really that color.

Yours are spectacular too!

panmanmatt · 08-17-2007, 07:23 PM

Very nice, Scott. I can't wait to get my new ones in.

08-17-2007, 03:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
aquaman3680 Golden Moray Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Overland Park, KS Posts: 2,099 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	August Coral of the Month: Blastomussa General Information: In the Blastomussa species there are only two species, Blastomussa merleti and Blastomussa wellsi. The main difference in these two species is the size of the polyp. B. wellsi has a much larger polyp much like a mushroom or a ricordia. B. merleti has a smaller polyp much like a zoanthid. How to best care for these two species and their needs are much the same. Lighting and Water flow: Blastos differ in lighting needs from colony to colony. This has a lot to do with the conditions in which they were collected from. Some Blastomussa colonies like medium flow and high light others may like very little flow and very little light. My suggestion with them would be to acclimate them carefully to high light and if they don’t like high light keep them lower in the tank. The only colony of B. wellsi I own is in medium light and high flow. Aggressiveness: Blastos are not at all aggressive. They are a species that has very short sweeper tentacles. Obviously something that is a couple centimeters away has the chance of being stung by them but they aren’t going to attack something 2” away. Hardiness: Both of these species are very hardy once established and acclimated to light and flow. They can also become fast growers. Feeding: Most of their food comes from the zooanthellae that hosts inside the coral that produces food for the coral through the light. But additional feedings of mysis shrimp or any other type of food small enough to swallow are great for accelerated growth. Propagation: These may be propagated by cutting through the skeleton. They should heal over fairly quickly. Blastomussa wellsi This a picture of my only colony of Blastos. Blastomussa merleti Hope you all enjoyed this one! Feel free to ask questions, share pictures, and offer suggestions! Matt __________________ Check it out! The 90 gallon Road Trip

08-17-2007, 04:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,508 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: August Coral of the Month: Blastomussa Pretty cool colors! how large would a single polyp get to be? __________________ DIY stuff for my tank stand, 100g tank,rock lift, overflow, foam walls, closed loop,lighting reflectors, 50gal sump, bubbletrap and sock holder, ato bracket,kalk bucket and reservoir, 40gal fuge, fuge lighting, remotish dsb raceway, turf algae raceway, dual pumped recirc skimmer, more to follow. Barb ripped my sig

08-17-2007, 04:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
panmanmatt Acropora Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Waretown, NJ Posts: 1,730 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: August Coral of the Month: Blastomussa Great info, Matt. Here are my only wellsis for now. Have more coming next week. I'll try to get a pic of my merlettis too. __________________ The mind is like a parachute, it only works when opened. (\__/) (='.'=) (")_(")

08-17-2007, 04:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
cheeks69 Wannabe Guru Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northeast Posts: 6,535 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: August Coral of the Month: Blastomussa Oh I love Blastos ! Here's a Wellsi Merletti My red Wellsi has done extremely well under the Halides but not my green Wellsi nor the Merletti in fact the latter has declined over time, I have to shade it and it still hasn't recovered. The Wellsi are very easy to feed and will eat anything meaty. __________________ Robert My Cube “A spirit is manifest in the laws of the Universe—a spirit vastly superior to that of man, and one in the face of which we with our modest powers must feel humble.” Albert Einstein

08-17-2007, 04:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
kathywithbirds You talkin ta ME? Join Date: May 2007 Location: Philly area, NJ Posts: 4,929 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: August Coral of the Month: Blastomussa So are these considered SPS or LPS? __________________ (\__/) (\__/) (@.@) (^.^) (")_(") (< >)

08-17-2007, 04:17 PM	#6 (permalink)
panmanmatt Acropora Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Waretown, NJ Posts: 1,730 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: August Coral of the Month: Blastomussa Love those red ones Cheeks. I have been looking for reds for a while, but always miss them by a couple days. One of these days, I will have some. I keep my blastos under 4x39w T5 lighting and they seem happy so far. __________________ The mind is like a parachute, it only works when opened. (\__/) (='.'=) (")_(")

08-17-2007, 04:25 PM	#7 (permalink)
aquaman3680 Golden Moray Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Overland Park, KS Posts: 2,099 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: August Coral of the Month: Blastomussa Steve-A single polyp on a large welsi can grow to be 1-2" across. Kathy- These are considered LPS as they have a very fleshy large polyp. Awesome picturers Robert and Matt! I would love to get more blastos! Matt __________________ Check it out! The 90 gallon Road Trip

08-17-2007, 04:43 PM	#8 (permalink)
kathywithbirds You talkin ta ME? Join Date: May 2007 Location: Philly area, NJ Posts: 4,929 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: August Coral of the Month: Blastomussa Thanks! Also, is it necessary to target feed every mouth on a colony? I could ask this of other corals you'd target feed too; is the colony considered a single entity (and therefore gets food no matter what polyp gets food) or is each polyp singular? __________________ (\__/) (\__/) (@.@) (^.^) (")_(") (< >)

08-17-2007, 06:37 PM	#12 (permalink)
Dentoid Over Achiever Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 9,592 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: August Coral of the Month: Blastomussa Here's the one I just got today! __________________ Scott Dentoid's Reeforama

08-17-2007, 06:49 PM	#13 (permalink)
hma Acropora Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Frankfurt, Germany Posts: 1,733 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: August Coral of the Month: Blastomussa @scott Is these Blasto coloured ? Blastos in this colour are unknown to me. .... whether coloured or not, they looks simply wonderful. __________________ Heinz Luck is a good health and a bad memory (Albert Schweitzer) Balling Method : Balling +Plus Video : Centropyge potteri Tools : Balling Calculator My Chronicle and ReefDreams HM-Aquarium Photo Calendar 2008 "IF SHARKS DIE, THE SEA DIES"

08-17-2007, 07:00 PM	#14 (permalink)
Dentoid Over Achiever Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 9,592 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: August Coral of the Month: Blastomussa Thanks Heinz! These are not dyed, if that is what you are asking. They are really that color. Yours are spectacular too! __________________ Scott Dentoid's Reeforama

08-17-2007, 07:23 PM	#15 (permalink)
panmanmatt Acropora Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Waretown, NJ Posts: 1,730 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: August Coral of the Month: Blastomussa Very nice, Scott. I can't wait to get my new ones in. __________________ The mind is like a parachute, it only works when opened. (\__/) (='.'=) (")_(")

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