Favia growth, and frag question

carriej

carriej

New member
So I have this...

IMG_0883_zpsdc094217.jpg


I see all these pictures of other people's favias in a ball, why is mine not growing into a ball? Will it eventually? Or is there some magic involved?

And what is the best way to frag those zoas off there; Would like to keep them as they are kinda cool but as you can see they can't stay there; and they are pretty snug up in there. I haven't fragged much other than mushrooms (and you can't kill those things; I chop em up like pizzas!) so I'm a bit nervous.

Any advice would be appreciated.
 
cut them off with a sharp razor or scapel,wear eye protection and a face mask if you get the slime in your mouth,eyes or an open cut your gonna have trouble with paly toxins......
As for growing in a ball not all favias do that
 
To take the zoas in large chunks or maybe even as a whole piece with the rock, you can use a chisel/flathead screwdriver and a hammer.
 
I am not too familiar with powertools.. I'm an esthetician I paint toenails for a living LOL... I don't even know what a chisel or flathead screwdriver is; will need to learn about these things I guess. I'm sure my husband probably has them, though.

I was hoping to just be able to cut them off. I have also read about palytoxin, does/will it squirt or will it just ooze out?
 
You can cut them off, but make sure not to cut a polyp in half or squish it as they can ooze/squirt the palytoxin.
 
What about the "skin" around the polyps, safe to cut? I was hoping to get underneath them and kind of peel them off if that is possible. You guys got me all scared now... lol
 
Great, thanks. There are two different types and they have grown together; and I want to separate the two types. They are very similar; but I fancy the ones on the edge a little more.

If the palytoxin gets me I will let you all know, lol.
 
I have fragged zoanthids over a 100 times. I normally just wear glasses. When I cut with power tools I wear a face shield you get a lowes. The problem you will have with your situation is completely removing them from the rock. You do pedicures. Just scrap the top layer of rock off. The top layer is normally very brittle. Also watch you tube videos. It will help a bunch. Finally if you get some in a cut or in any part of your body go to google and print out paly toxins and how the effect the body, then go to the ER. Most doctors aren't familiar with cases as they super super rare. I said super twice to make you feel better. Best of luck. Take pictures and feel proud when done. Learning in this hobby is my favorite part. Best of luck.
 
Wow you guys are brutal with your frags. Favia I'd cut with the rock and I'd use a diamond bit indo band saw. Or something made for propagation.
 
Ok you guys got me scared so I haven't even touched them yet... LOL

I am immunocompromised; so I'm a bit paranoid. I'm going to try breaking the rock away but they are right up underneath the favia almost.

I don't want to cut the favia - just the zoas. Unless you all think the favia should be cut? I don't know what to do with it; it's just sort of sitting there.
 
Favias will grow into a ball when placed on the sandbed. Since they can't grow out onto something, they will grow up.
 
hate to tell you but that isn't a favia. favia's have adjoining walls. this, to me, looks more like a chalice.
 
buk said:
hate to tell you but that isn't a favia. favia's have adjoining walls. this, to me, looks more like a chalice.
Click to expand...

Agreed, not a favia but beautiful! What do you call the Zoa's BTW. I live in Vietnam an that kind is everywhere. You can't walk at low tide on rocks without stepping on them. I have some in my tank too. Be careful with the Zoa's. They are not as tox as Paly's though.
 
Those are just zoas; I have no idea much about zoas and don't fall into the whole zoa "hype" they came as freebies.

It was sold to me as a xmas favia... You don't think it's a favia?

Here are more pics of the same coral... What do you mean by adjoining walls?

favia_zps62e68b67.jpg


favia_zps69278160.jpg


It gets all tentacley when I feed it.. I don't have a chalice, so do they do this also?
 
carriej,

The tissue of your zoas can either be picked away from the rock with a flathead screwdriver or a chisel ---- btw, both are not powered tools. They are considered hand tools. (you mistaked them for power tools above). However, I scapel may slice the zoas open exposing your to their toxins.

I suggest that you use a seperate container large enough to place your coral in, use a flathead screwdriver and pry the zoas away from the rock....also use a single edge razor blade to scrape any dead/residue tissue from the rock.

I hope this helps. And YES this is a favia. Chalice are like ballons when inflated - it becomes one large blanket of colors. Not what is shown in your photos.

Good luck and keep us all posted.


Larry
 
waterman78 said:
carriej,

The tissue of your zoas can either be picked away from the rock with a flathead screwdriver or a chisel ---- btw, both are not powered tools. They are considered hand tools. (you mistaked them for power tools above). However, I scapel may slice the zoas open exposing your to their toxins.
Click to expand...

Is it really that easy? You can just scrape them off the rock with a normal flathead screwdriver?

My brother in law just got a tank and I was considering giving him a few polyps of some of my Zoas, but was unsure how to go about removing them. The rocks they are attached to are not removable from the tank so I would have to do it underwater.
 
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