Exactly how do I frag?

[kremit2007]

In the future, when my tank settles back in, I want to frag some of the coral polyps I have growing. I have a rock which is about 6 inches long and 4 inches wide. The entire top and sides is absolutely covered in Polyps, not sure what kind. They are light brown/tan in color, and I would love to frag some of them to place in other areas of my tank. Any suggestions on how to do this? Can I literally pluck them off and glue them to another rock? If so, what is this "super glue" everyone is talking about? Is it literally super glue from the store?

 

[draleigh]

that is exactly how i "fragged" some in my tank and moved them to the other side of the tank. plucked some, used some super glue gel and put the few i pulled off on a piece of rubble. Now i have like 20 polyps in another area (about a month and a half later) If you can get to the base of the polyp try to cut them off the rock with a razor blade, it will probably work better

 

[-=Efrain=-]

Please be careful of what you frag.. Some types of polyps and zoes are very toxic to both humans and other pets.. Cover your eyes and wash your hands after. Also some corals are not worth having so you should post a picture first and let someone tell you if you should help spread the coral..

Polyps are very slimmy and glue will sometimes not work. You can try super glue gel. Yes the type from the store. If the polyps are worth fragging I would cut them with a razor and put them in a small shallow tuperware dish in your tank with rubble and let the frags attach to rubble then glue the rubble to the new location.

 

[ReefWreak]

pictures or an ID of some sort would help. I'm guessing from your signature that they're either mushrooms, Xenia, or something from the zoanthus family. You should definitely get an ID before you go fragging and distributing corals. If you're not comfortable with an ID, then you should easily be able to find someone in your area who can help you figure it out and make sure it's healthy, before you go slicing away at it. Pictures posted on here will also help.

Also the super glue is just literally "super glue gel" that you buy from any store, including w*mart. I use the Loc-Tite brand Super Glue Gel big bottle, and it works fine. For the Xenia, you'll have to rubberband, as they don't glue. Or just drop a piece of rock over the xenia, and watch them grow over and around them, so they're on top, then just remove the rock from the tank, and bam, fragged.

Good luck

 

[CarmieJo]

Also, look for a local reef or aquarium club. You can always find someone there who will help you get started.

 

[reefworm]

Good advice, particularly Efrain's cautions. if, after the research, you decide to frag, place rubble in the direction of growth, wait for it to make the jump to the new rock, then cut through the mat with a razor. Xenias, GSP and other fast-growing "weeds" are easily done this way with no need to worry about glues. Handle as little as possible though. Good source of frags for trades with your LFS for food, etc. [that is, for your fish ]

 

[demonsp]

www.youtube.com has few videos of people fraggin coral.

 

[kremit2007]

Thanks everyone, awesome ideas, I will definately be trying the growth on rubble first as to limit the unsuccess and stress put on the corals. As for pictures, I will post as soon as my snow globe has subsided. Thanks again!