Cutting the Anchor Coral?

[StinkinTuna]

Really need all your help on this, so for those who know please chime in

I Just got an Anchor/Hammer Coral at a discount rate...why the discount? Pictures show the obvious its.....dead in the middle with anchors only on ends.

My question is should I cut it so that I have 3 pieces and just keep the two with the 'anchors' or should I just leave it be and it will slowly grow back and fill in the center? It is not a branching anchor, it seems to be 1 big head.

If I do cut it do I need any part of the base (Fig. A) or can I leave out the base (Fig. B)?

(or is the coral doomed because it is dead in the middle?)

Please let me know as I have never cut or fragged any hard coral before (or softies for that matter). Thanks!

(currently acclimating in tank, sorry for bad pic)

How should I cut it?

 

[Shawnts106]

Hi,

I would first acclimate your new coral and let him be for a few days to get use to everything...

after you see him out and full, happy indeed... you can begin the fragging process...

If you do NOT want to see dead structure in between your living tissue then frag it.. if you dont mind ... leave him be..

After he gets in your tank, monitor him for RTN (rapid tissue necrosys[sp?])

If you see he is necrosing (sp?) then I would do a dip on him...


If he is fine...

after he has adjusted then Take the peice out and put him in a butter bowl or something...

You will want to stay away from the living tissue but frag as near as it that you can...

The best way to frag him, is to get a pair of stainless steel clippers for toe's or fingers, not the traditional kind, but the kind that looks sorta like a pair of scissor's ... anyway!

simplys start cutting near to the tissue... after you can cut as much of the skeleton off with the scissors as you can, then take a flat head screwdriver and place it near to the tissue but not too near... about Id say a CM or so away... then with a hammer carefully bump it down into the skeleton untill it breaks... and tada, your done...
to make the edges less noticeable... take your scissors and cut the edges off carefully...

I hope this makes sence... If not.. then maybe someone else can help you! haha

 

[StinkinTuna]

I understand what your saying thanks!

So I don't need any part of the base then?

If I'm understanding correctly I should get as near to the flesh as possible even on the underside? How deep does his flesh go into the coral?

Thanks this is very helpful!

 

[StinkinTuna]

If left alone, if the anchor is healthy, will it eventually grow over the exposed skeleton or will the skeleton always be showing???

 

[Shawnts106]

If I'm understanding correctly I should get as near to the flesh as possible even on the underside? How deep does his flesh go into the coral?

NO NO NO, lol, not on the UNDERSIDE just on the base.. let me see...


Ok, so, picture this, turn the Coral so that you are looking at the side... the flesh is on the top, and you are seeing it from the side...

You dont want to cut ANYTHING below the corals flesh, but rather, after it... just cut a little past the flesh, about a CM all the way down to the base...

avoid the flesh... but get as close to it as possible... about a CM past the fleshline is ok...

I hope that this helps... geeze, lol, its much easier to show a person IN PERSON lol!

 

[StinkinTuna]

Ok got it thanks for clarifying Shawn!

So past the flesh straight down to the base, but if the branch is sticking out away from the base then its still ok to cut straight down though the cut doesnt include the very bottom of the base.


Yeah I know what you mean these things are easier to show in person, but thanks for taking the time to write it out! Appreciate it!

 

[Shawnts106]

So past the flesh straight down to the base, but if the branch is sticking out away from the base then its still ok to cut straight down though the cut doesnt include the very bottom of the base.

LOL.... I THINK!

you cut down through the base, yes... and youll have like sharp corners.. its ok to cut those to make the more rounded...

make sense?