Green Star Polyps
The Green Star Polyps, or Clavularia viridis, are considered a soft coral. Green Star Polyps are open during the day and are retracted at night or when disturbed. Considered fairly fast growing and easy to care for, they are a favorite amongst beginner coral enthusiasts for their tanks. Green Star Polyps often attach themselves to the glass of aquariums, often creating a beautiful green backdrop.
Green Star Polyps Appearance
The Green Star Polyps have distinctive eight-leaved tentacles on each polyp. They are colonial animals with several individual polyps attached to a piece of live rock. Their stems are usually quite short (less than 12mm). The base is a fused, encrusting mass which is rather rubber-like in quality and usually purple in color. Green Star Polyps have long been confused with Xenia, to which it superficially resembles.
Reproduction Of The Green Star Polyps
The most common method of Green Star Polyps reproduction in the marine aquarium is accomplished by division. This occurs as the basal mass increases in size and develops new polyps. They also reproduce with sperm and eggs being shed into the open ocean and found in colonies in far away locations, but this star polyp method of reproduction seems to be uncommon in a tank environment.
Aquarium Conditions For Green Star Polyps
All types of star polyps thrive in medium water flow. While considered very peaceful by nature, they can be aggressive in terms of rapid growth. This means that they should not be placed next to more aggressive corals that may harm them. Green Star Polyps do not have a stinging capability, although its encrusting growth pattern can lead to rapid encroachment on its neighbors.
Feeding Of Green Star Polyps
Green Star Polyps contain a symbiotic algae, zooxanthellae, hosted within their bodies to provide for the majority of their nutritional requirements through photosynthesis. They also benefit from weekly feedings of micro plankton or foods specifically designed for filter feeding invertebrates.
Health Threats Of The Green Star Polyps
The Green Star Polyps are highly resistant to disease but do occasionally suffer predation from certain snails and nudibranchs such as Pleuroleura. These polyps will not tolerate deteriorating water conditions, overfeeding or overstocking of fish. Occasionally, polyps refuse to appear from the basal structure that has been dormant for some months. Usually they can fully recover if proper tank conditions are achieved.
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