What is a Colony?

[jda123]

I see posts all the time with 5 polyps, 2 heads/eyes or a stick with 2 branches where the frag plug is still visible being listed as "mother colonies."

What does everybody feel is an actual colony?

I feel:
50 polyps
25 heads or eyes
10+ branches
3-4" on non-branching stuff

...sorry for the public airing of a pet peeve.

 

[scchase]

I see your point for sure but would add it also depends on the size of your tank 5 polyps in a 10gallon tank looks like a lot more than it does in a 250g. I generally draw the line with anything that is obviously no longer a frag ie has grown out substantially and looks like a grownb out piece.

 

[aztecdreams]

Frag

Colony

 

[Frostyfish]

With zoas/palys the size of the polyps can make a difference as to what is considered a colony.

 

[DyM]

I agree with Rick, and here is a prime example of a frag in the pic, that's the colony

http://www.jasonfoxsignaturecorals.com/product_p/acr-z13.htm
http://www.reef2reef.com/forums/general-sps-discussion/153864-jf-flame-acropora-coral.html

It is what it is, a frag can be one polyp, or .5 inches. Does that mean the mother colony can be multiple 1" nubs.... see it all the time, and not just here.