Brain and Bubble frags...

[TIGER SHARK]

Hey Anthony! How ya doin?
I was wondering how I should frag my brain... in my tank of course :lol: I actually have 2 of them. They are both close to the shape of a 4 leaf clover.

1 - has a mouth in the center and another mouth in each leaf of the clover for a total of 4-5 seperate mouths. The skeleton is one solid piece. Can I frag out each of the mouths? 1 at a time or can I make a couple splits at a time? I was thinking seperating the tissue with a rubber band, then cut the skeleton once the tissue has seperated. Would you use a different method?

The second has one mouth running through the middle of the clover along most the length of the skeleton, similar to a bubble coral. Would fragging this brain run into the same problems as fragging a non-branching bubble coral? I've read these dont frag as easily and usually get bacterial infections before they recover. Can these infections be treated by some antibiotic dip each day after the tissue shows stress?

 

[Anthony Calfo]

Cheers, bub

I regret that I cannot specifically answer your question based on a common name.

There are many types of "brain" coral and several ways to propagate the various types. As with any coral, you need to specifically identify your animal first.

Are the corallites separate or do they have a shared wall (fused septae)?. The distinction needs to be made even between apparently similar coral (like Favia versus Favites among Faviids).

With LPS coral...the question may be a bit too involved to answer in the context of a short e-mail. The gist of your question, however, I believe is addressed around page 384 of my "Book of Coral Propagation" at the risk of making a shameless plug . Perhaps you have a local aquarium society with a copy in the library? Else let me know what clubs are nearby to you (PM I suppose).

In the meantime... please do get an ID of your animal and that will get you on the right track for starters.

Best regards,

Anthony

 

[TIGER SHARK]

I thought you had a book on Propagation. Do you have it at barnes and noble, only online? I will go check it out.

 

[Anthony Calfo]

Thanks kindly for the interest my friend... as embarassing as the self-promotion was

You can find it among various resellers, for one, through the RC bookstore/Amazon:

http://reefcentral.com/books/

Please don't feel the need to buy it for lack of an answer here though! I just need an accurate ID on your animal to share some advice (Lobophyllia, Trachyphyllia, Faviid, etc?). Some differences as to where/how to make the cuts with various genera.

Best regards!

Anthony

 

[TIGER SHARK]

Dont worry about the self promotion. I've actually been wanting to buy a good book for a while, just wasnt sure which one to get. But since you are a cool guy to talk to and very helpful, I would much rather support someone with a Just Cause. Im sure that book has everything I need to know to get caught up. Then, push things forward from there. I do have a pic of it on my website, and I think it is a lobophyllia but not certain.

http://www.geocities.com/dj_scotte/brain.html

Thanks for the help,
Scott